Parliament, Friday, 3 November 2023 – Although the Ad Hoc Joint Committee on Flood Disaster Relief and Recovery is satisfied with progress in restoring infrastructure damaged in last year’s floods in Mpumalanga’s Lekwa Local Municipality in the Gert Sibande District, it believes there is still room for improvement.
The committee received a progress report from the municipality and also visited some of the restored infrastructure.The committee was also briefed by the provincial MEC for Social Development, Ms Lindiwe Ntshalintshali, on her department’s support to victims of the floods.This support took the form of temporary shelter, food, counselling and assisting families to bury their loved ones. The committee heard that all flood victims have since returned to their homes and there is no one living in shelters.
The National Council of Provinces’ House Chairperson for Committees and Oversight, Mr Jomo Nyambi is the committee co-chair. He led the delegation that conducted oversight visits to Lekwa Local Municipality. The municipality was represented by the Speaker of the council and he was accompanied by the municipal manager after the mayor was removed through a vote of no confidence on the eve of the committee’s visit.
“From the reports we received and the sites we visited, I can safely say we are satisfied about the progress. But I must add that there are still some challenges because out of the allocation of R6 million, they have spent only R2,1 (33%). That is not a good story. Looking at the challenges, there is still some serious work to be done,” said Mr Nyambi.
The committee has visited all provinces and conducted follow-ups in some of them to assess the quality of flood damage intervention.It plans to meet with the Auditor-General before adopting its consolidated report.
Mr Nyambi said issues identified will be referred to the relevant select and portfolio committees in Parliament for further follow-up. “We will also have a legacy report for the seventh Parliament after next year’s general elections. There is work for local government and fortunately local government is not going to elections. But between now and elections, committees of Parliament will continue to follow up,” he said.
Commenting on the recent court judgment that found the municipality responsible for the Vaal River pollution by pumping raw sewer into the river, the Chairperson said the committee will be watching with interest how the municipality implements the court judgment to correct the challenges.
The municipality has also received R350 million from the national Department of Water and Sanitation to correct the identified challenges that led to the river pollution.
Today,the Ad Hoc committee will a receive a comprehensive progress report on interventions in the entire province from the MEC of Cogta Mr Mandla Msibi and Premier Ms Refiloe Mtsweni. The committee will also conduct oversight to sites affected by floods in Mbombela Local Municipality.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CO-CHAIRPERSON OF THE AD HOC JOINT COMMITTEE ON FLOOD DISASTER RELIEF AND RECOVERY,MR JOMO NYAMBI.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson of the committee, please contact:
Name: Sakhile Mokoena
Cell: 081 705 2130
Email: smokoena@parliament.gov.za
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