Riverlands disaster committee waiting on govt to release building material for flood victims
Tuesday marks two months since surging floodwater damaged people's homes and municipal infrastructure in Riverlands.
The aftermath of flooding in Riverlands, near Malmesbury in the Western Cape, after three dam retention walls collapsed on 8 August 2024. Picture: Supplied
CAPE TOWN - The Riverlands Disaster Steering Committee says it's waiting on the national Human Settlements Department to release building material for flood victims.
Tuesday marks two months since surging floodwater damaged people's homes and municipal infrastructure in Riverlands.
More than 200 people were affected when water from four collapsed dams in the area flooded their homes on 8 August.
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Almost 40 people are still being housed at a church and at a community centre in the area - and others are still living with friends and relatives.
Riverlands steering committee member Ralph Burger said more people have since moved back to their damaged homes.
"There are few people who said they don't want to go back to where they lived but the people are saying it is their ancestral land and they've been living here for hundreds of years, so they will only move to a certain part on the land where it's drier."
He said people's patience with the Human Settlements Department's delays in issuing building materials is running out.