Monday, 25 September 2000
The Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Amakhosi Members of the Community
The floods that ravaged our country, and the region, at the end of 1999 and the beginning of this year can be described as the worst in our history. Hundreds of lives were lost and immense damage caused to infrastructure such as roads, bridges, health and educational facilities. Not far from here in Mozambique, we remember vividly, the sight of many of our brothers and sisters clinging desperately to trees and rooftops for survival. In the true spirit of the African people’s ubuntu the governments and people of Southern Africa mobilised resources and swung into action. We salute our gallant soldiers who risked their lives to save thousands of others’.
While the attention of the international media focused mainly on the plight of the people of Mozambique, here in our own country, similar rescue operations were underway in KwaZulu Natal, the Northern Province and Mpumalanga, as our own people were being ravaged by the floods.The disaster soon passed but the emergency remained. Thousands of people left homeless, destitute and vulnerable to life threatening diseases had to be housed in makeshift accommodation. As is the strange characteristic of nature, when disaster strikes, it is the poorest that suffer the most. From Mahwelereng in the Northern Province to Sicabazeni here in KwaZulu Natal, the challenges of poverty eradication were amplified by the flood disaster.To deal with the aftermath of the disaster, government established the Command Centre and tasked it with the emergency reconstruction of flood damaged areas. The provision of temporary emergency shelter was prioritised. Here in KwaZulu Natal, in Mkhuze, Endaleni, Sicabazeni and Phelandaba, an estimated 400 families are in dire need of shelter. A major problem facing government has been the identification and availability of suitable land for temporary relocation of flood victims. In a practical manifestation of partnership, a privately owned farm was made available here in Mkhuze to relocate flood victims to. This act of compassion was in stark contrast to the reaction to attempts to house flood victims in government owned land, in an area north of Johannesburg. Objections by the affluent residents of a nearby suburb succeeded in halting the temporary housing project there.
Mr Senekal, who donated the use of his farm for the purpose of housing the destitute people of Mkhuze, stands out - as a patriot and a symbol of the new nation we are building in our country. We are confident that there are many more Senekals amongst our people and that they will continue to join hands with government to reconstruct our land and improve the lives of fellow South Africans.Government is particularly proud of progress made thus far in the reconstruction of our country. All national roads damaged by the floods have been repaired. All electricity and water infrastructure have been reconstructed. Temporary access bridges have been put up, allowing economic activity to resume.The reconstruction of social infrastructure within the province is gaining momentum, with over R200 million of the initial R500 million spent.
The Kruger National Park is being restored to normality in time for the expected December holiday rush. This massive programme of reconstruction is made possible by the partnership that government has forged with the private sector, civil society, parastatals and NGO’s. The generous donations that continue to pour in from the private sector and the contributions by parastatals such as Transnet, Eskom, HSRC and the DBSA have made a tremendous difference in the assistance that government has been able to give to these unfortunate members of our nation.
Our National Defense Force deserves special praise for the significant role they continue to play in the provision of emergency relief to our communities.The commitment and dedication, shown by all South Africans in this reconstruction effort, must be reflected in other, broader programmes that seek to consolidate our young democracy.
In this context, please allow me to say that, the coming local government elections are very crucial to entrenching this democracy. Let us all ensure therefore that we have valid identity documents and are registered to vote for the eradication of poverty and degradation.
I thank you.