The City of Cape Town’s MMC for human settlements, Carl Pophaim, collaborated with humanitarian NGO Gift of the Givers to provide essential assistance to school learners and their families affected by a destructive fire that swept through Hillview informal settlement last month.
The fire, exacerbated by strong winds, destroyed 80 homes on Christmas Eve, leading to the displacement of 400 individuals and the destruction of around 80 structures.
Also read: Residents of Hillview start rebuilding their homes following destructive fire
The City said the joint initiative came just in time as the new school year got under way.
Gift of the Givers is known to provide school supplies, including stationery, to between 400 and 500 children at the start of each school year as part of its Back to School Programme, which aims to support disadvantaged school learners.
According to NGO’s spokesperson, Ali Sablay, Gift of the Givers determined that school supplies formed one of the many vital needs in the Hillview community.
‘During our visit to the Hillview community last month, we determined that the need for school supplies was one of the most vital needs that had to be prioritised,’ said Sablay.
He added that new school uniforms were given to each and every affected learner during the joint initiative, ‘to ensure that they do not feel left out when returning to school’.
Councillor Pophaim said the partnership with Gift of the Givers is a testament to the City’s commitment to maintaining the wellbeing of the Mother City’s communities.
‘In the face of adversity, we stand united to bring hope and support to those affected by the Hillview fire,’ he said.
Pophaim also emphasised that while the City continues its collaborative efforts with partners to assist disaster victims, there is a crucial need for direct access to disaster funding for effective emergency response and mitigation.
‘Access to disaster funding is paramount for our emergency response efforts. We are working diligently with organisations like Gift of the Givers to ensure immediate relief reaches those who need it most,’ said Pophaim.
‘We will continue to urge the National Minister of Human Settlements to consider decentralising disaster relief funding to clean, capable and well-governed municipalities such as the City of Cape Town, ensuring residents affected by disasters can live in dignity and receive prompt and efficient assistance in emergencies,’ he added.
Pophaim previously called for a more effective approach to fire and flood relief, advocating for the decentralisation of disaster relief funding.
In a statement last year, he highlighted the challenges faced by the City’s residents, particularly those affected by fires, under the current relief process, which is led by the national government and the Ministry of Human Settlements.
Also read:
Cape Town councillor advocates for decentralised disaster relief funding
Picture: City of Cape Town / Facebook
