Issued by: DEPARTMENT OF CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
MEDIA STATEMENT ON THE MINISTERIAL VISIT TO THE MOUNT AYLIFF NTABANKULU TORNADO STRUCK AREAS
Ministers MV Moosa, Minister for Provincial Affairs and Constitutional Development and G Fraser-Moleketi, Minister of Welfare and Population Development, today toured the Mount Ayliff and Ntabankulu areas which have been hit by the recent storms and tornado.
They said that they were shocked by the extent of the devastation which they have witnessed. In many villages entire rows of houses have been reduced to heaps of rubble. The poor, who do not have insurance or other resources to rebuild their homes, have been the worst affected and many families have lost all their worldly possessions.
The two Ministers confirmed that they would immediately recommend to the President that the two areas and surrounding rural areas be declared disaster areas in terms of the fund Raising Act (Act no 107 of 1978, as amended).
A technical team, consisting of officials from national, provincial and local government, coordinated by Mr Zam Titus, Director General of the Department of Constitutional Development, has remained in the area to ensure the speedy and controlled distribution of materials such as tents, food, medical supplies and clean water to the affected areas.
Due to the inaccessibility of the terrain, the distribution of materials is difficult. material no longer required for the relief efforts at Umtata is also being transported to the affected areas. Victims who have not yet received tents are being accommodated in public buildings such as schools.
The Ministers whishes to assure residents in the areas that everything possible is being done to relieve the plight of those who have been affected by the tragic turn of events.
Issued by the Ministry for Provincial Affairs and Constitutional Development on 21 January 1999.
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