CoCT may soon be able to supply building kits to flood, fire victims again - Hill-Lewis
Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis said the kits were not funded by them anymore, but by national government, through the national emergency housing grant.
Lwandle residents inspect the damage to a home on 8 April 2024 following a storm that hit the Western Cape. Picture: Ntuthuzelo Nene/Eyewitness News
CAPE TOWN - Cape Town Mayor Georgin Hill-Lewis said the municipality might soon be able to supply floods and fire building kits again.
The mayor said since a few years ago, funds for the kits were centralised nationally.
However, following recent devastating fires and floods in Cape Town, affected residents have called on the municipality to help them with building material.
Hundreds of people have been queuing at the Nomzamo community hall since this morning, for basic essentials. Teams from Gift of the Givers have been handing out food, blankets, toiletries, and other essentials @NtuthuzeloNene pic.twitter.com/95g6QKqUoH
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) April 8, 2024
Historically, the city provided building kits for victims of fires and floods.
However, Hill-Lewis said the kits were not funded by them anymore, but by national government, through the national emergency housing grant.
He said that before funds could be released, municipalities must apply to the national human settlements department first.
"It is not the case that the city discontinued those, it is a case that across the country, cities were no longer allowed to access that grant, it was controlled centrally and nationally."
The mayor said that an agreement had been reached recently for the municipality to access the funds to buy material and store it for future disasters.