FIREMAN'S DEATH HIGHLIGHTS STORMWATER PROBLEM

BY CLLR KAREN MEYER

I wish to add my condolences to those already extended to the family of Mr Henry Knox by my colleagues, Ben and Dana Wannenburg, on behalf of the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Tshwane Caucus. It is always sad when we lose our members, particularly when they lose their lives to either save or serve others in the community. We salute them!

As Alderman Gert Pretorius (DA Caucus Leader in Tshwane) indicated in a statement issued last week, how many more lives must be lost and/or property damaged before the Tshwane Metro Council gives urgent attention to the insufficient and inefficient storm water drainage system in the City of Tshwane? Clearly, the infrastructure cannot handle the flooding on the scale that we have been witnessing. Judging from world trends regarding unpredictable weather patterns, we can expect more of these types of natural disasters. WE NEED TO BE FULLY PREPARED!

A thorough risk analysis needs to be done immediately and the red areas identified. Once this has been done, adequate budgeting can take place. For example, the department of Disaster Management only receives about R12 000-00 per annum which is budgeted for disaster relief aid (eg. blankets). Other departments do assist but do not really budget for this.

Furthermore, are our emergency services properly equipped with general disaster management vehicles? Are their current vehicles sufficiently suited and equipped to deal with natural disasters such as flooding? If not, this should be budgeted for as a matter of priority.

We should not put the lives of our emergency services personnel at any greater risk –their jobs are hazardous enough. The DA wishes to thank each and every member who was (and still is) involved in rescue missions, for the sacrifices made in serving the residents of Tshwane. We pray for their safety.

FLOOD DAMAGES PUT SPOTLIGHT ON INSUFFICIENT INFRASTRUCTURE

BY ALDERMAN GERT PRETORIUS,DA LEADER IN THE TSHWANE METRO COUNCIL

During the week following New Year scores of residents in the north of Pretoria were washed out of their homes by heavy rains in the area. Hammanskraal seems to have been one of the worst affected areas. Furniture and personal belongings were apparently lost or damaged. Residents interviewed by the media expressed their dissatisfaction with the ANC-led Tshwane Metro Council and blamed it for their losses. They allegedly claimed that the council had failed to address their problems.
A week later, the Pretoria News headline screamed: “Wall crushes toddler to death”. According to the article, a three year old orphaned boy was killed after heavy rains caused a wall to collapse in Winterveld (about 30km north of Pretoria).This occurred on Sunday, 9 January 2011.
Once again, members of the community blamed the government for the tragedy. They complained that they had to live in mud shacks whilst waiting for RDP houses. A community leader is quoted as having said: “Just early in the afternoon before the accident, we were with the member of the mayoral committee (MMC) and we told him that the houses were not safe as it was raining but it seemed as though our pleas fell on deaf ears”.
How many more properties must be damaged and/or destroyed or even worse, lives lost, before the Mayor and his committee take firm steps to address the issue? We in the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Tshwane Metro Council understand what it is to have our pleas fall on deaf ears. Whilst we are limited in the actions we can take, the community can do something positive. There is really no place for suffering in a democracy – Give the DA a chance to govern Tshwane and vote for change during the forthcoming municipal elections.