The City of Cape Town wants to buy fire and flood kits with money from grants it has received from both the provincial and national governments.
Historically, the City has for over a decade provided emergency fire and flood building kits for households and informal settlements affected by fires.
This, however, came to a halt in 2020, when severe cuts had to be made in the national government’s budget. As a result, the national Department of Human Settlements drastically reduced funding for housing in every province.
According to News24, on 6 October the City’s executive director, Nolwandle Gqiba, sent a letter to the provincial and national governments stating that approximately 270 000 households in Cape Town’s informal settlements were at risk.
The letter stated that “These households are particularly vulnerable to floods and fires for a number of reasons, including the nature of the materials used to construct the structures, location, and the density of these settlements.”
Also read: Fire destroys 100 dwellings in Masiphumelele Informal Settlement
“The administration has been tasked to formally enquire from the department if any of the grants may be utilised to procure these types of shelter materials,” added Gqiba.
City spokesperson Luthando Tyhalibongo said letters were sent to the National Department of Human Settlements, the Western Cape Department of Human Settlements, and the City of Cape Town’s chief financial officer “to solicit inputs required by the portfolio committee as they consider various policy decisions regarding emergency housing provisions in the city as part of their oversight functions.”
The National Department’s communications director, Mandulo Maphumulo, confirmed receipt of the letter but would not comment, as reported by News24.
Graig-Lee Smith, the spokesperson for Human Settlement’s MEC Tertuis Simmers, also confirmed receipt and stated that disaster-assistance funding is available and must be used appropriately.
Additionally, Western Cape Local Government MEC, Anton Bredell echoed the importance of government support for households affected by disasters.
He also said that it is important for the government to spend money on safety measures to cut down on fires in communities.
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Picture: Jonathan Mills
