No answers yet to state of disaster questions for Phalaborwa
Mopani District Municipality (MDM) says they are playing a coordinating role in getting Phalaborwa declared a state of disaster after the devastating fire three weeks ago that destroyed 14 homes and a guesthouse.
Last week the Herald reported that the civil rights organisation, AfriForum had expressed their concern regarding the declaration of Phalaborwa as a state of disaster by the Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality (BPM). AfriForum’s disaster management specialist, Tarien Cooks, said that legislation requires that when an area is declared a disaster area, it must be published in the Government Gazette and the regulations of the disaster must be detailed.
However, the disaster area has still not been officially announced in the Government Gazette, she said. “If this municipality has access to more money that is supposed to bring relief and it is not properly regulated, the community will continue to suffer,” she said. Jonas Mahesu, the spokesperson of BPM, last week told the Herald that their recommendations were escalated to MDM and the Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs (CoGSTHA).
Also read: The community of Phalaborwa comes together after fire
However, MDM spokesman, Odas Ngobeni told the Herald this week that their role is mainly around coordination. “When all of the criteria set out have been met, it will then be gazetted by CoGHSTA through the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC),” Ngobeni said. CoGHSTA spokesman, Hitekani Magwedze, told the Herald that only NDMC has the authority to declare the area a disaster zone, however, the process is underway.
“Since CoGHSTA MEC, Basikopo Makamu’s visit to Phalaborwa, he has instructed officials to work together with CoGHSTA on a national level to assist the victims with building grants that will enable them to rebuild and renovate their homes. “I don’t know how far the process is, but the department is definitely working on making sure that the victims can access the grants soon to enable them to rebuild their lives.”
BPM’s mayor, Clr Merriam Malatji, has in the meantime donated household appliances to the victims. “We are on the ground supporting our people. “We requested donations from our stakeholders to provide support to the distressed families,” the mayor said.
