Ward 17 residents are demanding compensation within the next seven days for their flood damaged homes after the Tlhageng dam overflowed.
WARD 17 residents are demanding compensation within the next seven days for their flood damaged homes after the Tlhageng dam overflowed.
The community members handed over a petition at the Sol Plaatje Municipality on Wednesday morning where they indicated that they would refer the matter to the Public Protector’s office and South African Human Rights Commission for investigation.
The claimants indicated that they were told to collect their claims at the municipal offices on January 25, only to be told that “there was no money”.
“It has been almost three years since the damage was caused to our homes and we are elderly people who are struggling to survive.”
Community representative Lawrence Hendriks pointed out that the Tlhageng dam had not been repaired yet.
EFF proportional representative councillor Poelo Nathane stated that they would have no other option but to take to the streets if their demands were not met by the set deadline.
‘Council has yet to account for where the funds have disappeared to. They only have half of the information that we are looking for. We also want to see the names of the beneficiaries because it appears that residents who do not reside in the ward stand to benefit from the pay-outs.”
The municipality undertook to cover the estimated R5 million for damages from an internal insurance fund after Guardrisk, the appointed insurance brokers, declined to pay out the claim.
The insurance company was of the opinion that the municipality had not taken the necessary steps to prevent a recurrence of the overflowing of the dam.
The municipality was seeking legal advice to review the insurance claim decision.
Petitions officer at Sol Plaatje municipality, Ronnie Morwe, said 14 days were needed in which to respond to the grievances.
“I will forward the matters raised to the mayor, Speaker and members of the mayoral committee involved in infrastructure. We will also monitor whether the funds that were allocated towards repairing the Tlhageng dam were directed towards ensuring that it is able to contain the water.”
