Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane has called for the urgent development of a comprehensive national framework to mitigate climate-induced disasters across South Africa.
Simelane made the call during an oversight visit to flood-affected areas in the Ehlanzeni District, in Mpumalanga.
The Minister had conducted site inspections to assess the work undertaken by the Department of Human Settlements’ Emergency Housing Unit, in collaboration with provincial and municipal authorities, to provide relief to households and communities affected by the recent heavy rains that damaged properties and infrastructure.
Accompanied by Mpumalanga MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Speed Mashilo, and Bushbuckridge Local Municipality Executive Mayor, Matlanatso Lydia Moroane, Simelane received an update on the rollout of Temporary Residential Units (TRUs) for households affected by devastating floods in wards 14, 17 and 30, as well as other affected areas in the province.
The Department of Human Settlements provides emergency housing assistance through four key interventions, including restoration, relocation, rebuilding and repairs.
Addressing stakeholders at the municipal council chambers, Simelane stressed that the proposed disaster mitigation framework should not be confined to Mpumalanga but must be implemented nationwide to safeguard communities and enhance resilience.
She expressed concern that relief efforts, especially within the human settlements’ emergency housing programme, are often delayed due to the unavailability of suitable land for relocation of disaster victims and poor planning.
The Minister urged municipalities to align disaster preparedness with the country’s growth trajectory, highlighting the importance of proactive and coordinated planning to mitigate the impact of natural disasters.
“We need to start planning collaboratively, plan for our growth, say where we are going and what happens during disasters. We must be proactive and prepare land accordingly with weather reports and projections,” the Minister said.
She added that municipalities must prioritise planning towards climate-resilient infrastructure and ensure that affected communities are not excluded from relief interventions.
Mashilo agreed with the Minister’s call for proactive and integrated planning to mitigate disasters, noting that similar concerns were raised during President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent visit to the province.
“When the President was here last week, he also pointed out the issue of lack of planning when it comes to human settlements. We cannot continue to behave like we don’t know or anticipate the types of disasters, especially with our weather forecasters being able to predict the amount of rains expected to fall in the rainy seasons,” Mashilo said.
He further emphasised the need for cooperation among all three spheres of government and communities to ensure that South Africans, especially vulnerable people, are protected from harsh living conditions caused by climate-induced disasters, as well as delays in relief efforts due to unsafe or unsuitable land.
Simelane and Mashilo agreed to explore the utilisation of additional human settlements grants allocated to the province to assist with rebuilding of roads, sewer systems, and storm water drainage infrastructure to mitigate future flood damage.
The Mpumalanga oversight visit follows a similar assessment conducted in Limpopo, where several areas were affected by recent floods resulting from prolonged rainfall. – SAnews.gov.za
