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DA: Mpuma fails storm victims
09/04/2008 19:02 - (SA)
Johannesburg - The disaster management team dispatched to help the storm-struck communities of Bushbuckridge was ineffective and slow, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Mpumalanga said on Wednesday.
DA provincial spokesperson on local government and housing Anthony Benadie said that by noon on Tuesday the disaster management team had not erected tents or distributed food parcels and blankets.
The storm struck the Bushbuckridge area on Monday evening.
Only 110 tents were taken to house 500 families, Benadie said.
The DA reported that the disaster management team was evaluating the situation before taking action.
Benadie called on the Mpumalanga premier to intervene to transform this team into a real emergency intervention team which saved lives.
"This was the second disaster to hit Mpumalanga this year where the disaster management team was unable to react timeously to the disaster and this inability will continue to cost many lives," said Benadie.
In January this year, 36 RDP houses were destroyed in Emzinoni, Govan Mbeki municipality, by a storm.
The disaster management team was unable to fulfil its obligation as it was only able to distribute food parcels for 10 days and water for 15 days, said Benadie.
Head of provincial communications Simphiwe Kunene on Wednesday said that the disaster management team was setting up 110 tents for the people who were also sheltering in community centres.
The team distributed 1 300 blankets and enough food, ready to eat, for 2 000 people. The team had more food in reserves if it was needed.
Other organisations and social partners were also providing assistance to the people, said Kunene.
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