Full assessments of worst-affected informal settlements ongoing | Full assessments of worst-affected informal settlements ongoing | | <img alt="" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/PublishingImages/About%20Informal%20Settlements%20Header.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | <p>STATEMENT BY THE CITY'S MAYORAL COMMITTEE MEMBER FOR HUMAN SETTLEMENTS, COUNCILLOR CARL POPHAIM</p><p>City disaster risk management and frontline service teams remain on the ground assisting vulnerable residents in informal areas that have been impacted by the extraordinary storm that ravaged Cape Town, the Western and Eastern Cape over the weekend.<br></p> | <p></p><span><p>I have visited some of the impacted areas in Klipheuwel, Philippi, Sir Lowry's Pass Village, and Khayelitsha to assess the damage and assistance that is available. Our human settlements, basic services and disaster risk management and safety and security teams, have worked non-stop to assist residents with milling material, relocation and emergency flood kits where it has been feasible to do so. In some areas where the water will take longer to evaporate due to the soil conditions, and where the safety risk is pronounced, City teams will look at draining water where feasible. Full assessments of households in need are being done across the metro. The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) remains the lead relief authority and the City calls on this agency for swifter action. The City is also intensifying its engagement with National Government to provide greater budget allocation and a simplified process for disaster relief as far as allowing the City to redirect the relief in a decentralised way.</p>
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<img src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Images%202/pophaim%20flooding%201.jpg" class="responsive" alt="" style="width:949px;" /> </figure></span><span><p>The vulnerability and scale of informal residents across the metro has increased tremendously since Covid-19 and the large-scale unlawful occupation that took place while the emergency regulations were in effect. In the past financial year, we spent a 100% of our informal settlement grant allocation, amid a worrying trend of reduced national government transfers while informality has grown tremendously. The unprecedented large-scale unlawful occupations during Covid-19 and the national lockdown, created 186 new informal settlements. Importantly, more than 60% of these new settlements are considered high risk – situated under power lines, in wetlands, retention ponds and biodiversity protected areas. We'd need about 500 ha of land for these new occupants, identified to be at risk due to their physical location. </p><p> </p>
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<img src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Images%202/pophaim%20flooding%202.jpg" class="responsive" alt="" style="width:802px;" /> </figure></span><span><p>Our Human Settlements Strategy delves into innovative ways to address informality within limited resources and land and we have developed a managed settlements approach to focus on on site upgrades for some of the newly established settlements. However, large scale interventions are required in terms of national government funding and the release of national government land. We are ready to serve and to change the landscape but we need greater partnerships and proactive solutions to the urban pressure we are facing. </p>
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<img src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Images%202/pophaim%20flooding%203.jpg" class="responsive" alt="" style="width:949px;" /> </figure></span><p>I will continue to look at all viable options to bring positive change and engagements with all stakeholders continue. I thank all our teams and communities for the non-stop work in assisting our residents and for the support given to our communities. </p><p><strong>End</strong></p><p> </p><p><br></p> | 2023-09-25T22:00:00Z | GP0|#1d539e44-7c8c-4646-887d-386dc1d95d70;L0|#01d539e44-7c8c-4646-887d-386dc1d95d70|City news;GTSet|#62efe227-07aa-45e7-944c-ceebacca891d | | | | | GP0|#a40ad539-1abd-4549-af11-63cf388da83c;L0|#0a40ad539-1abd-4549-af11-63cf388da83c|flooding;GTSet|#2e3de6c1-9951-4747-8f53-470629a399bb;GP0|#a83e4cc6-6869-4ccb-a6ef-366f36e76fb8;L0|#0a83e4cc6-6869-4ccb-a6ef-366f36e76fb8|Informal settlement;GTSet|#2e3de6c1-9951-4747-8f53-470629a399bb;GP0|#a4eccbe6-2bec-49aa-ad58-8ed41a372c82;L0|#0a4eccbe6-2bec-49aa-ad58-8ed41a372c82|housing;GTSet|#2e3de6c1-9951-4747-8f53-470629a399bb | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |