The Eastern Cape is fast-tracking housing for those left homeless by recent floods, said the provincial department of housing and local government on Wednesday.
”Help is on the way for up to 20 000 families that were either displaced or partially affected by the recent floods, storms and snowfall disasters that struck certain parts of the … Eastern Cape,” said departmental spokesperson Mbulelo Linda in a statement.
He said problems in the areas hit this week by heavy snowfalls are still being assessed.
Linda said emergency housing budget allocations for 2006/07 around the province totalled R32-million. ”The province and the municipalities are currently … spending these allocations as per submission of priority lists and business plans from the municipalities.”
The Port Elizabeth-based Nelson Mandela Bay metro (NMBM) was badly hit by recent floods. Linda said the department and NMBM officials met on Tuesday to put together a housing relief plan.
”Currently over 25 000 families in the NMBM are living in extremely stressful conditions, of which approximately 22 500 families do not have access to proper water and sanitation services,” said Linda.
He said about 6000 of these families live in the Soweto-on-Sea and Veeplaas areas. These families will be relocated immediately through the Zanemvula project, which has a budget of R73,9-million for the 2006/07 financial year. It is expected to deliver about 3 000 houses by March 31 next year.
Linda said this means that emergency funding will not immediately be needed here as normal housing-subsidy funds are being used.
There are also 6 000 fully serviced sites available throughout the NMBM not committed to any housing project. These are available for immediate development.
Linda said other relief efforts around the province are being coordinated by the provincial department of social development. There is also R10-million for the Department of Agriculture and Land Affairs to supply and transport feed and stock water to affected farmers.
He said there has been an ”overwhelming” response by the public, organisations and business to requests for aid.
The province is adding up the costs of the recent weather disasters. Linda said damage to electricity is estimated at R2-million, environmental damage at R1,7-million, recreation and cultural services at R1,8-million and safety and security services at R500 000.
Infrastructure damage is estimated at more than R310-million so far. This includes: NMBM, R120-million; Amathole district, R17,3-million; Cacadu district, R173,4-million; OR Tambo, R106 000.
Costs for temporary repairs to business infrastructure and private properties are estimated at R3,7-million, medium-term repairs at R26,6-million and long-term repairs at R109,3-million.
Linda said further damage assessments are still being made. — Sapa