As groceries donated by humanitarian agencies run out, more than 80 Mdantsane families displaced from their homes by June’s floods, say they have been neglected by Buffalo City Metro leaders.
The families complain of living conditions at the NU1 and NU7 community halls where they have been staying since heavy downpours left thousands of Eastern Cape families homeless a month ago and during which a number of people lost their lives.
BCM has responded to the accusation saying they are working with their counterparts from other spheres of government to find a solution.
The city said in BCM alone, 1,300 people had been displaced and were being accommodated in community halls in Mdantsane, Braelyn and Mzamomhle, while others had been moved to chalets, old age homes and temporary housing.
About 52 residents from informal settlements in Sisonke — popularly known as Boss Zonke and Emivundleni — were temporarily placed at the NU1 Community Hall. Thirty-two of them are children.
Residents at the site said they had not had electricity for three weeks.
Women and children were sleeping on the stage, while the men used an open space near the ablutions as a bedroom.
The residents have been relying on borrowed mattresses and donated food from various NGOs and soup kitchens.
They are using donated paraffin heaters and blankets to keep warm.
Boniswa Samani said they had not seen a BCM official since the first week.
“We’ve found a way to live but it is not enough.
“If we had the means we would have left this place and moved back to our places, but we can’t because we lost everything.
“We haven’t had electricity for weeks.
“As soon as we got here the electricity was cut off, and when we raised this they said there was electricity but the wiring was the issue.”
Samani, 51, said the conditions were not good for children.
“We had an incident here where a child got sick and nearly died. Imagine having to assist a person in the dark.
“We don’t know how we will cope when the schools reopen.
“A simple update from the mayor or the councillor’s office would have been appreciated.
“We don’t know what is happening outside — we were just placed here and no-one is talking.
“We have been ignored, because it is not normal that not a single official comes.
“A person from social development came here yesterday, and then left without saying anything.”
The ward is now waiting for a date for by-elections after the death of ward councillor Andile Phethani in June.
An official from the councillor’s office said the available food might be depleted by the weekend.
“There are people there with children so it is not easy. The lady with a soup kitchen informed them that she couldn’t continue any more.
“There was an option to move them to the bungalows in Mtsotso but people in Mtsotso refused because they said the existing bungalows had already been assigned.”
Thirty-two people, mostly children, all from different wards, were placed in Mdantsane NU7 community hall.
Ward councillor Aphiwe Gcwabe could not be reached for comment. Ward officials said he was on leave.
BCM spokesperson Samkelo Ngwenya said: “The metro is preoccupied with the issue of land, relocations and temporary shelters and this is something that is receiving our attention together with our counterparts from other spheres of government.
“At the appropriate time, this will be communicated."
He said reports of a food shortage were incorrect.
“We have been able to manage the provision of food and hot meals adequately.
“The displaced have been provided with blankets, mattresses, sanitary towels and so on and we have received generous donations from humanitarian donors, and these have been shared with the displaced in the form of groceries and hot meals.
“We are grateful to the organisations that have opened their hearts and supported this good cause.
“The only challenge that we face is that people are leaving the halls and coming in [for meals] and this makes it difficult to keep up with the numbers.
“Remember, the reason behind supplying groceries is for them to be able to make their own food. This is something we are managing.”
Former BCM mayor Xola Pakati reported to council that a December 13 2021 storm had left 528 families homeless, with 842 houses partially damaged, while a January 8 2022 storm left 319 families homeless and displaced, with 730 homes partially destroyed.
A report showed that the metro needed more than R32m to fix damaged homes, and would also need R189m to fix bridges, pipe crossings, stormwater upgrades and damaged roads.
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