R55 Million on What?

Dear Editor

The DA notes that after almost two years since the devastating floods that left Deelpan residents homeless in the Tswaing Local Municipality and the R54,9 million made available by the North West Provincial Government to reconstruct damaged homes, many remain destitute.

While the DA acknowledges the provincial government’s intention to rebuild houses for those who were affected as well as to construct new homes for beneficiaries, we believe preference should be given to reconstruct those homes that were damaged by the floods and remain underwater to this day.

North West Acting Premier Nono Maloyi indicated during his Human Settlements Budget Speech this year that the residents agreed to be relocated to a new site where the construction of new houses was supposed to be underway. Typical of the ANC in government, we only found a vacant plot of land during an oversight inspection of the area last week.

During our engagement with residents, it was clear that the North West Provincial Government has failed them. Residents confirmed that several meetings were held with government officials, but nothing tangible has come from those – only empty promises. Many of the affected residents are still forced to share accommodation with relatives and have nowhere else to go.

The Deelpan story is a sad reminder of how this ANC government has no sympathy for the desperation of citizens. Two years ago, ANC leaders, Ministers, MECs, and officials swarmed the Deelpan community in blue-light VIP convoys making all sorts of promises to rebuild and uplift the Deelpan community. Today the village is quiet as if no disaster ever took place, with nothing but the remnants of some houses still submerged in water and impassible gravel roads.

We will today write to Acting Premier Maloyi requesting him to give a detailed outline of any progress his government has registered in Deelpan. The North West Provincial Government should account for every cent spent to date of the R54,98 million and provide a detailed timeline for when the construction of houses at the identified new site would be completed, along with the bulk infrastructure necessary to service the new development.

The ANC North West Provincial Government should be ashamed of its failure to respond decisively to the Deelpan disaster.

Regards

Freddy Sonakile MPL
DA North West Spokesperson on Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA)