Mayor Plato signs disaster declaration for relief assistance to Masiphumelele fire victims
18 December 2020
Cape Town Mayor, Alderman Dan Plato, has signed the Local Disaster Declaration which sets in motion the process for relief funding from the national government. Yesterday evening, 17 December 2020, a fire tore through Masiphumelele destroying more than 1 000 dwellings and affecting 4 000 people. The Western Cape Government has been engaged for an emergency gazetting of the local disaster, which is expected within the next 24 hours. Thereafter, funds for the emergency relief will be made available and it will enable the City to issue building kits to the registered fire-affected residents. The City is doing its best to expedite the process, as far as its powers allow. Read more below:
‘It is very important for us to have visited the site to assess the well-being of those affected by this tragedy and to make an assessment of the number of structures that will need to be rebuilt, which has now been determined. This morning, as Executive Mayor, I signed the necessary documents required to initiate the declaration of a local disaster, which will enable a greater humanitarian response as funding is required for the provision of rebuilding kits. Thank you to the City officials who have worked through the night to support these residents as well as preparing the application for disaster relief. I wish to thank all members of the public and organisations who have donated food items, clothing and other items as part of the community response,’ said Executive Mayor Dan Plato.
• The City’s Solid Waste Management Department officials are currently clearing the debris.
• Affected residents are being verified and registered by the Informal Settlements Management Department.
• Masks and sanitisers are being issued to the victims of the disaster in line with COVID-19 regulations.
• Once registered, they will be issued with a proof of residence certificate as evidence of their residency in future when they rebuild or are issued with emergency kits in accordance with the disaster declaration.
• All affected services will be reinstalled as soon as possible.
‘The process of disaster declaration is required due to national government budget cuts resulting in the City no longer being able to offer the extra service of fire and flood kits provision to residents outside of declared disasters. For more than a decade, Cape Town was the only metro in South Africa that offered this additional service outside of a declared disaster.
‘The overall cuts in national human settlements grant money is impacting on the City’s delivery in many ways. The cut of the grant used for fire kits is the latest impact. The Human Settlements Directorate spent 98% of its Urban Settlements Development Grant (USDG) capital budget in the 2019/20 financial year. National budget cuts have seen the reduction of the City’s USDG by R118 million this year. The City continues to call for conditional grants not to be cut and for other solutions to be found nationally. There is a lot of work required now in Masiphumelele and the City remains committed to the task at hand, 24/7,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Human Settlements, Councillor Malusi Booi.
‘An onsite Joint Operations Centre has been established by the City’s Disaster Risk Management and regular briefings with all the important role-players are taking place to facilitate coordination and management of the disaster,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
The South African Social Security Agency has been advised of the incident and been requested to provide social relief assistance.
‘It is at a time of disaster that the people of Cape Town truly show their strength. We want to thank everyone who has contributed and those who will be assisting in the days ahead. Together we can ease the plight of those affected,’ said Alderman Smith.
Infrastructure that has been damaged includes the entire electrical infrastructure, as well as a substation. Water and Sanitation infrastructure has also been damaged that includes over 100 toilets, taps and standpipes.
To donate, please contact Living Hope who is coordinating the relief efforts: 082 465 9067. The City thanks Living Hope, Gift of the Givers and Respond Church Consortium for the assistance.
It is believed many affected residents will be staying with friends and family in the area. The City urges affected residents not to rebuild until the City has finalised all processes. Furthermore, the City urges leadership to encourage fire-affected not to rebuild prematurely, and to keep access ways clear from structures to ensure emergency and basic services access.
The City is doing everything within its power to assist our affected residents.
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
