January flood victims still living in Nellmapius library awaiting relocation
"Some people got tired of waiting and decided to rebuild their shacks on the flood line."
Nellmapius residents, who had to be housed in a local library after their homes were washed away in floods in January, have been kept in the dark about their promised relocation for eight months now.
“We were told that the process of relocating us to a safer place process was underway and we were given blankets and food while we waited for a couple of months,” said displaced resident Gift Maloka
The residents complained this week about being kept in the dark about relocation.
He said it was about time that Tshwane human settlements acted on their relocation process.
Earlier this year, as the victims of the floods, they were temporarily accommodated in the library.
“Many of us are unemployed and lost everything we owned was swept away during the heavy rains.
“Food parcels were delivered as promised when we were temporarily placed at Nellmapius library, but after a few months people started going hungry as food was no longer being delivered.”
Another flood victim, Asavela Ntanjana, said they were promised a lot of things when they arrived at the library but not a single one has come to pass.
“Home affairs officials came and took the names of people who lost their IDs and birth certificates, but they are still waiting for them to come back and help them,” she said.
“Some people got tired of waiting and decided to rebuild their shacks on the flood line.
“We also heard rumours that those who have moved back to their shacks are the ones the human settlements will prioritise when the relocation starts.”
She said she had nothing to go back to as everything she owned was swept away.
“Even those who returned were living in fear of history repeating itself. I feel hopeless and lost,” she said.
Another victim, Samuel Simbini, said many of them dreaded the start of the rainy season, “which is around the corner”.
He said as the government continued to ignore them, history could repeat itself – only this time claiming more lives.
“We are tired of empty promises and corruption that always delays the relocation process,” said Simbini.
Rekord is still awaiting comment from the Tshwane metro’s human settlements department.
ALSO READ: Flood victims relocation remains metro’s priority
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