Riverlands CPF chair encouraged by presence of govt officials in flood-hit area
More than 200 people were forced to leave their homes when severe floods swept through the area almost two weeks ago.
Residents of Riverlands, near Malmesbury, are pleading with government officials to help them rebuild their homes that were damaged by the recent heavy floods. Picture: Ntuthuzelo Nene/Eyewitness News
CAPE TOWN - Riverlands community policing forum (CPF) chairperson Ralph Burger said he's encouraged by the presence of government officials who have come to the town to offer help following heavy floods.
More than 200 people were forced to leave their homes when severe floods swept through the area almost two weeks ago.
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The walls of three retention dams collapsed, sending a deluge of water gushing through the streets of Riverlands.
Small-scale farmers are said to have lost crops and livestock as well.
Burger said officials from the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development visited the area on Monday.
Burger said while he welcomed the help, he hoped no one would be excluded.
"We've found out that some of our people are being excluded because they now need lease agreements of the land that they're living on, or they're being told they're household farmers. But these are niche farmers who did some small agriculture things and made money from that. But now they need bank statements and all those things before they can help them."
One of the farmers who has been affected, Malcolm Beck, is hopeful that they will get assistance.
"They took our names, ID numbers, plot numbers, and they came to our houses to assess the damages. They did not promise us anything as yet, but I can see it's a step in the right direction."