Durban — Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Sihle Zikalala has expressed his concern with allegations about the selling of building materials meant for flood relief, and described the act as a disgrace.
Earlier this year, parts of the province were battered by heavy rainfall that resulted in flooding and the deaths of more than 400 people.
Zikalala said the department had noted with concern serious allegations reported in the media of flood victims in Ndwedwe who are selling building materials meant for relief purposes.
“If the reports are true, we should all be concerned as responsible citizens. This is a total disregard of the rule of law, and is a disgrace, to say the least,” Zikalala said.
“These acts of criminality compromise the integrity of relief efforts made by local and provincial governments. We call for the law to take its course, even against those who buy these materials.
“We call upon anyone who has witnessed these unsavoury acts to report to the nearest police. We further call upon the law enforcement agencies to treat this with the ultimate seriousness,” Zikalala said.
The MEC’s reaction comes a day after the Daily News reported that Ndwedwe Local Municipality mayor Sam Mfeka has called for the blacklisting of flood victims who were found selling the building material that was given to them to rebuild homes damaged by floods.
Speaking on the sidelines of his imbizo, held at Bhamshela village on Friday, the mayor expressed his disappointment and said he had instructed ward councillors and traditional leaders to compile a list of the culprits so that their names could be sent to Human Settlements MEC Dr Ntuthuko Mahlaba for blacklisting. The visibly angry mayor said such people should be blacklisted and not considered for relief when floods struck again.
“This is a blatant abuse of government resources, and these people must be taught a lesson for what they did. If they did not need help, they should have said so, because there were people elsewhere who desperately needed help to rebuild their houses," said Mfeka.
Human Settlements spokesperson Mlungisi Khumalo said Mahlaba would institute an internal investigation and lay criminal charges against those found to have sold the materials.
Last week, eThekwini Municipality mayor Mxolisi Kaunda said the municipality had approved 3 011 people who required materials, and that R34 million was allocated for this purpose. To date, 467 people from five mass care centres have been supplied with building materials (Bester, Amaoti, Dassenhoek, Cutshwayo and Clermont Hall).
Daily News