Minister Kubayi tells complaining flood victims ‘I’m not God’

Residents affected by recent drastic floods in Gauteng are launching attacks on Human Settlements Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi.

But Kubayi said: “I don’t know what they want me to come [to do].

“If I was God, I would predict the disasters and come and protect [them] but I cannot do that.

“My responsibility is that when disasters have happened to see if people are homeless and assist in providing shelter.”

Soweto areas hit hard by floods

Kubayi was responding to complaints from residents Protea Glen in Soweto affected by floods that hit Gauteng on Friday.

“We are doing activation of our interventions, putting together teams to focus on assessment of the houses across the city to tell us how many have been affected,” Kubayi said.

But the residents said the minister’s comment was insensitive as people have lost their lives while others have been displaced.

ALSO READ: How floods hurt Joburg: Cars swept away and homes submerged

Kliptown, Protea South, Nancefield and Alexandra have also been hard hit.

“Kubayi does not have clue what we going through. She was enjoying herself over the weekend with her family and comes today [yesterday] to act as if she cares. Our Christmas is ruined,” said the residents.

Kubayi said at least 2 000 families had been affected by the floods. “We have already moved 46 families to a partitioned hall next to Nancefield Hostel. The relocation in Kliptown is happening, so we are doing a lot of work to relocate people,” she added.

A resident in Protea Glen, Buyi Molefe, said the minister’s visit was just to act like something was being done.

“She did not even visit any of the houses to check the damage the water caused,” said Molefe.

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Another resident Samuel Sedebane said if the government did not help, they would take the fight to the minister’s door.

On Sunday, National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola sent condolences to the family of 36-year-old warrant officer Ntsako Pataka who died after his vehicle was swept away by floods.

He was attached to the Division: Protection and Security Services as an in-transit VIP Protector.