Joburg Mayor Mpho Phalatse said that while the city was able to provide short-term relief for families displaced during heavy rains, officials also needed to relocate families on floodplains before disaster strikes again.
JOHANNESBURG - Joburg Mayor Mpho Phalatse said that the unavailability of land across the city had made it difficult to respond to the demand for shelter among flood survivors.
Phalatse said that while the city was able to provide short-term relief for families displaced during heavy rains, officials also needed to relocate families on floodplains before disaster strikes again. The mayor made the comments during an assessment of the damage caused by this month's floods, with Roodeport, Soweto and Centurion among the areas that were hardest hit by the persistent rain.Phalatse said that the city's housing crisis was amplified by the influx of undocumented foreign nationals.
"We are also doing our own investigations to find out who owns the land and what options we have as a city. Where land is privately owned, we are reaching out to the owners to see what potential there is for the city to take over that land and see what parts of the land is habitable. There is a lot of work happening. Where people need to be relocated, we are doing that," the mayor said.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
PICS: 'We will not rest' – Mayor inspects roads damaged in Joburg floods | The CitizenSome stormwater channels and roads collapsed during the recent JoburgFloods. ⛈️ See the photos here 👇 Gauteng Thunderstorms Weather MphoPhalatse
Read more »
'Speeding days are over' - City of Joburg signs three-year contract for speed cameras | The CitizenBe on the lookout🧐 Motorists will also be tested for road fitness, including DrunkDriving , and vehicles will be tested for roadworthiness Speeding
Read more »
Blind foreigners among 300 stranded after Joburg flats raided, allegedly by Operation DudulaMore than 300 foreign nationals who were living in Msibi House, a hijacked building in New Doornfontein in Johannesburg, are homeless after they were allegedly forcefully removed by a group claiming to be Operation Dudula members.
Read more »
Nelson Mandela Bay left without a mayor after MEC pushes ahead with municipal structure changesThere is considerable uncertainty around whether Nelson Mandela Bay metro still has its DA mayor, Retief Odendaal. Eastern Cape MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Zolile Williams has promulgated a decision to change the municipality’s structure from an executive system to a collective one, in effect removing Odendaal from his job.
Read more »
A look at Gayton McKenzie’s year as mayor and what he achievedCentral Karoo District mayor Gayton McKenzie put his money where his mouth is to achieve some of the promises he made when he was elected this year.
Read more »