Clarity on Mamelodi ‘flood victims’ relocation by end of the month – Tshwane metro

The so-called “flood victims” of Mamelodi will be updated on the progress made to relocate them at a meeting which is set to be held at the end of this month.

Tshwane metro spokesperson, Lindela Mashigo said the head administrator, Mpho Nawa, met with the floods victims on 23 September to give feedback regarding the progress made in relation to the relocation process.

“It was agreed with the flood victims in the last meeting, that the next meeting scheduled for the end of October 2020 will update them on progress made regarding the second phase of relocation.”

However, the flood victims complained that last week’s rain was enough to set everyone on edge and brought back bad memories.

Flood victims demanded the metro to give them an exact date of relocation.

Mashigo said the first phase of relocation has been completed and the second phase will resume once the transfer process of the land, purchased by the metro for relocation, is finalised.

“During our last meeting, we agreed we will update them on progress made regarding the second phase of relocation.

“The second phase of relocation will also include identified old informal settlements,” said Mashigo.

Mashigo said the metro was having discussions with different stakeholders to prioritise those residents who are closer to the river bank to temporarily move them to a different section within the settlement.

“The metro’s finances have been partly overstretched by the Covid-19 outbreak, however, we have applied for more funding from the national and provincial government to enable us to finalise the relocation process.”

A representative of the victims, December Matlala said flood victims are left feeling hopeless and lost since they were kept in the dark about whether they are moving to a safer place.

Matlala said they should have been moved to a safer place by now, but still to this day they had nowhere to go.

He pleaded with authorities to speed up the process to move them to a safer land or identify an empty piece of land.