Cape Town - The City of Cape Town has allocated more than R5 million for residents whose homes were destroyed by fires over December and January. It says the focus will be on those who have not yet rebuilt, especially Phola Park in Philippi.
This allocation was included in the City’s adjusted budget, presented in council on January 26. The funds have been made available by the national government from the Municipal Emergency Grant.
The grant follows the visit two weeks ago by Human Settlements’ mayco member Mmamoloko Kubayi, who together with Human Settlement Mayco member Malusi Booi visited the townships and promised starter kits to those affected.
The allocation will be used in areas determined by Kubayi, including Phola Park, Khayelitsha, Dunoon and Masiphumelele.
The community recently had a meeting with their leader, Teenage Mthiyane, to touch on issues that were preventing them from rebuilding their homes.
“The community is frustrated. I understand, but even with that being said, as the leader I cannot allow them to make other alternatives because among them there are individuals who are unemployed, so if others are to be allowed to rebuild that means others might not have space when the City finally provides them with material,” Mthiyane said.
“At this point my aim as the leader is to protect the land so that when the time comes for the City to deliver on its promises there will be no fights whatsoever,” Mthiyane said.
The City said the allocation roughly translates to 400 emergency building units. However, the allocation also includes other emergency relief work, not just fire kits.
“On average, from the number of fires the City experiences per year, a budget of approximately R42 million is required to assist residents with building kits. However, this allocation for the recent fires goes some way to at least enable the City to again provide relief outside of declared disasters.”
“When the City’s grant funding conditions were changed, the approximately R35 million it had been budgeting per year at that time fell away.
“The City continued its call for the national government to again look at grant funding to assist provincial governments and municipalities with this mounting task of rapid emergency assistance.
“We are thus pleased that we are able to make provision for this allocation in the January 2023 adjustments budget,” the City reported.