VICTIMS of the tornado in October 2008 which left 161 houses severely damaged still don’t have permanent houses, despite a promise made to them by former Housing MEC Thobile Mhlahlo.
VICTIMS of the tornado in October 2008 which left 161 houses severely damaged still don’t have permanent houses, despite a promise made to them by former Housing MEC Thobile Mhlahlo.
The affected area was immediately deemed a disaster zone and the municipality applied for R8.77-million from the provincial government to repair the damaged houses. However, not a single house has been built in Grahamstown following the delivery of 87 fold-away zinc houses to uninhabitable homes in December of the same year.
Makana Municipality spokesperson Thandy Matebese says that during the last mayoral committee meeting – which was held in December 2009 – a housing plan for the tornado victims was approved. He added that for the plan to be implemented the municipality also needs the provincial housing department’s approval.
“The reconstruction work will start afterwards in two phases, for houses that are partially damaged and totally damaged,” he asserted.
According to the national disaster management policy’s norms and standards on repairs of damaged formal houses, allowances to the maximum of R54 482.90 per house
are recommended.
