
Eastern Cape floods will not be used as a get-rich-quick scheme, says acting premier
Eastern Cape Finance MEC and Acting Premier Mlungisi Mvoko has cautioned that funds allocated to assist victims of recent devastating floods should not be misused for personal gain.
A memorial service was held in Decoligny village, Mthatha, on Thursday following the loss of more than 90 lives due to heavy rains that swept across the province last week.
The floods, which struck the OR Tambo and Amathole District Municipalities, have left many families displaced.
Temporary shelters have since been set up, and essential items such as meals, clothing and hygiene products are being distributed to affected communities.
Eastern Cape floods: Government pledges support
Speaking at Thursday's memorial, Mvoko reaffirmed government's commitment to supporting those impacted by the disaster.
'Premier Oscar Mabuyane said this day shouldn't be for long speeches, but he said I should leave words of hope and the government's commitment in helping the victims of the disaster,' he said.
The MEC highlighted the severe impact the floods have had on infrastructure across the province.
'The relentless rain, roaring winds and floodwaters have taken their toll not just on our infrastructure, but also on our people, our communities and our collective sense of safety.
ALSO READ: Eastern Cape floods: Police vow to 'wake morals' of looters
'The floods have tested us, but rest assured, we will rebuild the affected communities.
'More than 4 300 people have been affected by the recent disaster in our province. Households are destroyed. More than 4 200 households have been destroyed.'
According to Mvoko, 1 963 households have suffered partial roof damage. Additionally, over 400 schools have been affected, with more than 1 500 classrooms damaged – impacting over 40 000 pupils.
'We have not listed damaged roads, bridges, hospitals and water infrastructure, but for now we estimate the damage to be around R4 billion.'
Watch the memorial below:
'Get-rich-quick scheme'
With the Eastern Cape officially declared a disaster zone, Mvoko condemned those attempting to exploit the tragedy for personal or financial gain – a possible reference to reports of 'water mafias' obstructing the work of humanitarian organisation Gift of the Givers.
'We have observed acts of cruelty where individuals want to benefit from this disaster…. People want to take advantage of disaster zones. They want to be the ones who benefit.'
He stressed that corruption in the disbursement of aid would not be tolerated.
READ MORE: Eastern Cape floods: Police vow to 'wake morals' of looters
'This tragedy should not and will not be used as a get-rich-quick scheme, where there are people who want to see money from the disaster.
'Any funds dedicated to it will be used prudently to help our people rebuild their lives.
'We ask representatives of government that when the money is received, which is meant to help people, it should be used for what it is intended for.'
Mvoko further urged individuals to refrain from misusing or hoarding relief supplies, emphasising that food parcels should not be taken for themselves.
Eastern Cape floods death toll
Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane described the disaster as 'unprecedented,' with the current death toll at 92.
'We are deeply saddened by the horrific human tragedy,' she said.
'We don't want to count more numbers of people who have departed, but we appreciate that it is important for families to find closure,' Simelane continued.
The minister said that efforts to restore water and electricity services are ongoing in the affected parts of the Eastern Cape, excluding the areas still too wet for access.
'The Department of Home Affairs is still on site giving assistance to all community members who need their paperwork,' Simelane added.
She further confirmed that some pupils had returned to school. Additionally, public infrastructure, such as bridges, are being rebuilt.
NOW READ: 'This is a catastrophic disaster': Ramaphosa visits devastated families after deadly EC floods

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IOL News
13 hours ago
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Daily Maverick
3 days ago
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IOL News
4 days ago
- IOL News
KZN Education MEC Sipho Hlomuka denies involvement in NSNP tender irregularities
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Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ However, Sibisi cautioned against what he described as a broader campaign to undermine the ANC's integrity. 'There seems to be a concerted campaign to impugn the integrity of the ANC and its leaders. This campaign, advanced by faceless individuals, not only defames these comrades but has the potential to cause instability.' He highlighted previous examples, stating, 'The case of the non-renewal of Ms Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma's contract is a practical example of how the names of both the concerned ANC leader and the ANC itself can be dragged through the mud based on baseless allegations.' 'The ANC firmly opposes any acts of criminality, especially when they involve public finances. However, we believe that the threshold for damaging someone's character through public allegations is unacceptably low. We must all recognise our responsibility to uphold the principles of our Constitution, which includes respecting individuals' rights to dignity, said ANC KZN Coordinator, Michael Mabuyakhulu. 'The ANC remains steadfast in its mission to build a better South Africa where all people, regardless of background or affiliation, are treated with dignity. We urge members of the media, the public, and social commentators to act responsibly, verify facts, and resist being drawn into campaigns that seek to sow confusion and division,'' said Sibisi. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. IOL Politics