Devolve emergency housing grant to functioning municipalities hit by floods

Note to editors: Please find attached soundbite by Luyolo Mphithi MP

The recent floods across South Africa just last month affected over 15 000 people. These natural disasters have highlighted the importance of government readiness and responsiveness to communities affected by natural disasters.

One of the major concerns is the ability of municipalities to get to localised areas that are heavily affected by disasters and offer assistance. What is clear is that when funds are hamstrung by government bureaucracy, response teams on the ground are heavily hampered in providing help to families that have been displaced. Funding should be easily available to mobilise resources as a matter of urgency when required - such as emergency housing after floods.

It is important that localised response teams have all the resources at their disposal to ensure the delivery of essential services are rendered during extreme weather conditions.

We urge the Minister of Human Settlements, Mmamoloko Kubayi, to reconsider the devolvement of the emergency housing grant back to municipalities and provinces that work. Municipalities like the City of Cape Town at the time of their management of the fund could respond to emergencies/disasters within 24 hours.

The recent natural disasters have seen residents waiting months to receive this service across the country. It is simply not working to get affected communities' details and wait for it to be processed by the National Department in order to access the grant.

Development of any meaningful disaster plan should involve planning and coordination that is primarily localised. The success of readiness and responsiveness to natural disasters is dependent on a national department that can devolve the grant to municipalities that work and can competently deliver services during natural disasters.