The Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (Contralesa) has made an impassioned plea to the government to ensure that only deserving people are awarded tenders in KwaZulu-Natal, following the recent devastating floods.
Contralesa president Chief Larmeck Mokoena says the recent floods in KwaZulu-Natal have exposed the government’s failure to provide proper infrastructure. He says this is because of awarding tenders to incompetent people.
“The painful experience or situation in KZN has exposed the poor infrastructure that has been built in our country of late. Some of the roads and buildings that are recently built have been washed away. Government must stop awarding tenders to people with no experience. We call upon our government to set up a team that will identify reputable and known experienced service providers that will assist in that situation in KZN.”
Pictures of the damage caused by the floods:
Relief funds
There has been widespread concern about the possibility of corruption during the disbursement of funds, after President Cyril Ramaphosa declared a national state of disaster, in part to release relief funds.
This week, the Solidary Fund Chairperson Gloria Serobe said they’re ready to assist in disbursing disaster funds to assist in dealing with the aftermath of the floods in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape.
Serobe said the fund has completed its COVID mandate.
“We’ve done our mandates, the covid mandate, and also the unrest mandate, which was last year July. We did leave a window there that in winding down, we will leave space for if another calamity does come around, the fund should just be able to just reopen and reboot. What we did not bargain for at the time was that that calamity would come sooner than later.”
Mop-up operations
It’s been described as the worst flood disaster in the province’s history and far more severe than Tropical cyclone Demoina, which left 60 people dead 35 years ago.
Mop-up operations have been intensified in the province. Search and rescue teams have also converged on the province along with members of the South African Defence Forces.
The province estimated that 116 000 people were affected, more than five thousand people were left homeless and more than eight thousand houses were partially damaged.
In many places, people are still counting the losses and mourning loved ones.
Sole survivor
Meanwhile, the Westville community in Durban is rallying behind a 10 -year-old girl who is the sole survivor in her family.
Shakirah Haji’s mother, father and baby brother died when the bank behind their home collapsed on them on Monday last week. Megan Sponneck is among the community members that are spearheading fundraising efforts for the girl.
“She’s a very very brave girl. As well as can be. She’s exceptionally strong and quietly spoken and she also keeps a lot close to her chest so we have ensured she’s been receiving love and care and just ensuring her day-to-day needs are met and she has everything she needs. Haji and Halima were the most humble people you have ever come across. They were kind, loyal, and considerate. Nothing was too much for them. They lived for Shakira, everything they did they did together. They did it for her benefit. They were a closely knitted family.”
Meanwhile, one more body has been retrieved from the floods in Greenwood Park, Durban. The body of a woman believed to have been trapped for ten days was found on Wednesday night.
