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AT LEAST 16 roads in the Nama Khoi Local Municipality area have been damaged, with some still submerged by water following the recent flooding caused by heavy rains.
Several communities have been cut off due to the flooded roads and are unable to travel out of their respective towns and settlements.
The Northern Cape MEC for Public Work, Fufe Makatong, joined by executive members of the local and district municipalities, on Monday assessed the damage caused by heavy rains in the area.
Makatong said the aim of the assessment is to also see what measures are needed to assist the affected communities.
She added that her department is working in partnership with other local departments as well as the local municipality to ensure that communities are provided with humanitarian aid.
“The Northern Cape Department of Roads and Public Works, along with the provincial Department of Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta) and the Nama Khoi Municipality, is assessing and assisting the communities in the municipal area who were affected by the recent floods due to heavy rainfall,” said Makatong.
“We are aware that 16 roads in the area are damaged and that some roads are still flooded with water. This has resulted in some areas being inaccessible. However, we are looking at alternative routes that will connect communities of Hondeklipbaai, Klipfontein and Wallekraal as they are currently cut off. We expect to have those communities able to move in and out of their town by the end of this week.
“The provincial government, together with the local and district municipalities, has been very active in participating in the planning processes. There is a joint district operations committee, which is led by the executive mayor of the district municipality. The department of Coghsta is playing a key role in the co-ordination of this process. As the Public Works Department, we are participating in this process joined by other provincial departments such as Health and Social Development.
“The assistance of the provincial government can be summarised as that of humanitarian. Our responsibility is to ensure that the livelihoods of the residents affected are not totally disturbed,” Makatong concluded.