Mamelodi flood victims’ relocation financing to feature in next Tshwane budget

Will there be light at the end of the tunnel for people living in the string of informal settlements on the banks of Moretele River who constantly face flooding in Mamelodi?

This week a disagreement ensued between coalition partners, ActionSA and the DA in Tshwane, over the
municipality’s adjusted budget.

Among some of the reasons for the partners to be at loggerheads was a claim of non-availability of funding in the current budget for the relocation of hundreds of people living in informal settlements on the river banks in Mamelodi.

Millions of rands for the relocation have been tied up in legal investigations of possible corruption of a land purchase deal by the metro.

The purchase deal in question was done by the temporary administrators who led the metro between (March-September 2020). Former head administrator Mpho Nawa previously said a large portion of R493.2-million was used to purchase land.

ActionSA acting chairperson Michael Beaumont said after long talks with coalition partners it was agreed that the funding for land for the Mamelodi flood victims would be catered for in the July 2022 budget.

“The multi-party coalition has provided written assurances in respect of the acquisition of land for the Mamelodi flood victims,” Beaumont said.

“These assurances recognise that the return of funds locked in litigation on this matter will take time and that the project must be fully funded for the new financial year beginning in July 2022.”

Meanwhile, ActionSA’s fight to get R20-million funding for water tankers at informal settlements fell flat after its amendment did not receive majority votes. The adjusted budget was passed after 175 councillors voted, including the coalition partners and the ANC. A majority of EFF councillors abstained from voting.

At least one person drowned and 800 people’s homes were damaged in the heavy rains of the first weekend of February.

This was the second time that heavy rains wreaked havoc in the area. The first flooding happened in December 2019. Since then promises of relocation were made by various government stakeholders. Thus far, 610 people were moved and the relocation of fewer than 2 000 has not yet happened.

Speaking to Rekord, human settlements MMC Abel Tau said the metro would likely start the relocation by October 2022.

“The negotiations for land acquisitions are about to start so that by July when the budget is passed we will then be able to purchase the land and relocate the people. Those timelines are realistic,” he said.

“This budget will not only cater for the relocation of the Mamelodi victims but also some informal settlements that have been waiting for formalisation since 2001.”

He said it was important to speed up the relocation of the people – to prevent more lives lost during heavy rains.

ALSO READ: Flood victims threaten to invade land

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