Mayor dismisses flood aid claims

ROB KNOWLES

MAYOR Sipho Tandani has rejected accusations Ndlambe municipality has been helping some flood victims and ignoring others.

Tandani called a press conference after the executive committee meeting last Wednesday to address several issues arising from the flooding a fortnight ago.

Originally scheduled for 10am, the exco meeting was moved to 2pm to allow Tandani to survey the affected areas during a helicopter ride over the Ndlambe.

He was joined by municipal manager Rolly Dumezweni, infrastructural development director Xolani Masiza and community protection services deputy director Fanie Fouche.

Responding to murmurs around Port Alfred that the municipality was being selective about whom it helped, Tandani assured the media that the efforts of the municipality were intended to assist all Ndlambe citizens, and were not simply concentrated on the black townships.

Some of the worst affected areas were Hards Street, Medolino Caravan Park and other low-lying parts or Port Alfred which are still under water.

"We are looking at the whole of the area of Ndlambe,” said Tandani. "We can only visit one area at a time, but we have visited many of the houses in town (Port Alfred) and offered our support. There is no conflict of interest; we are responsible for all our people throughout the Ndlambe area.

"Unfortunately, some properties in low-lying areas were unavoidably affected by the flooding, especially our rural roads which are the lifeblood of our area.”

Tandani also condemned reports in regional newspapers for stating an incorrect figure of R500-million as the cost of repairing the damage caused by the floods.

"I have spoken to David Macgregor (of the Daily Dispatch) about headlines appearing in both the Daily Dispatch and the Herald this morning (Wednesday October 24). He misquoted me. The R500-million was a figure I was quoted (in 2010) to fix the roads in the area and had nothing to do with the flood damage,” Tandani said.

He said until an assessment could be made by a professional contractor the amount to fix flood damage had yet to be established.

"The problems are both above and below ground,” he explained, including damage to municipal property as well as to sewerage, water and electrical infrastructure.

He said the MEC for roads, transport and public works, Thandiswa Marawu, had gained first-hand knowledge of the disaster during her visit last Tuesday (October 23).

"We have not provided a final report on the damage to her as yet,” Tandani said, adding this would only be done once the municipality's contractor had assessed the damage.

He went on to say that delivery of products to Ndlambe were going to be a problem for the foreseeable future as the main arterial roads had been severely damaged in the floods.

"No individual is responsible for the rains,” said Tandani. "We do not differentiate between those paying rates and those who do not. They are all our people and therefore our responsibility. The storm water infrastructure was simply inadequate to deal with that amount of water.”

Municipal manager Rolly Dumezweni echoed the mayor's comments.

"I strongly believe that the problems could have been mitigated if our request of June 2010 for R29-million to the province had have been adopted,” he said.

"There is no need to be pessimistic, and I believe the government will heed our call.”

He also said the municipality was creating a list of the individuals and businesses that went the extra mile in helping during the floods.

"They need to be commended for what they have done,” he said.

Tandani said it was rare for a community to pull together the way they did during the disaster. He also said that the municipality was working "24/7” to get the water back on in Port Alfred's West Bank area.

Tandani also reported on a proposed visit by the provincial disaster management team from Bhisho. A meeting was scheduled for 9am on Wednesday (October 31), but was delayed until 2pm. At the time of going to press the purpose of the meeting was still unclear.

Infrastructural development director Xolani Masiza added water should be back on-line by last Friday to all parts of Port Alfred, but by Tuesday the Flame Lily area was still without water.