Pretoria – Mop-up operations to repair damaged roads and other infrastructure caused by the recent storms are underway in the City of Tshwane.
Addressing media on Monday, Executive Mayor of the City of Tshwane, Kgosientso Ramokgopa, said the City has already dispatched contractors to all affected areas.
He said the damage caused by the storms is estimated at R890 million.
About 44 800 houses were affected leaving 179 000 people stranded. Mayor Ramokgopa said affected families would be prioritised.
As part of the repairs to houses, Mayor Ramokgopa said they will be replacing all damaged asbestos roofs with new ones.
With regard to road repairs, Mayor Ramokgopa said priority will be given to public transport routes.
“The inspections are in progress to quantify the extent of the problems. Certain roads will have to be reconstructed as the asphalt surface of the road and layer work was extensively damaged,” he said.
According to the City, the damage to the roads and storm water systems is estimated at R124 million.
The City declared a state of disaster in Soshanguve and Mamelodi in December last year after severe storms caused damages to houses leaving many stranded.
Mayor Ramokgopa said due to the heavy rains, there will be delays in the construction of the Tshwane Rapid Transit (TRT) and the expected completion date will be end of May this year.
Meanwhile, the City is mourning the death of three children who drowned due to the recent floods.
According to Mayor Ramokgopa, the City will provide assistance to the families of the three children.
“We also want to urge parents to be more vigilant and look after their children during this period of wet weather. Communities must also rally together and collectively look after each other,” Mayor Ramokgopa said.
The children’s bodies were recovered yesterday after a weeklong search.
The City's emergency personnel found the bodies underneath trees that were uprooted and fell into the river approximately 50m and 3km on the Pienaars River away from the pipe the children were last spotted.
The children, nine-year-old Bonolo Malemela, and 10-year-olds Gomolemo Mangena and Neo Sehlabane, were last seen on Monday after school in Mamelodi West. – SAnews.gov.za
