The RAGS Foundation is calling on the community of Parkgate and surrounding areas to step in and assist the remaining displaced residents, who were forced to leave their homes behind in the rush for safety during the April floods.
As the City continues to find homes and habitable shelter for the floods victims in Tongaat and Verulam, a number of families are still living like nomads. Around 10 families from Riet River and Parkgate are living in tents, six months after the devastating floods. According to the families they have been displaced once again, allegedly due to the lack of funding, which was needed to renew the lease on the land that they were living on. The chairperson of the non-profit organisation, RAGS Foundation, Vassie Govender said they were made aware of the plight of the families a few weeks ago.
He said: “When we heard about what was happening, we went out to Parkgate to see the families and the situation is extremely sad. Some of their houses were completely washed away and they cannot go back home. They only managed to escape with the clothes on their back. They needed help and we decided to help as best as we could.” Govender said that a tent over their heads is not enough. “We are appealing to the community and business owners to help us, help them. Any assistance in the form of food, meals and clothing would be highly appreciated. These families need to rebuild their lives from scratch,” said Govender.
Avitha Peter, one of the flood victims who used to live in Riet RIver, said they feel like they don t belong anywhere. “It is so hard, because we do not have any roots. When the floods came in April, our homes and worldly possessions were washed away. Everything was so damaged from the first floods. We didn t even know what to grab when the rains came because everything was already damaged and we were hip deep in rain water,” said Peter. Jessica Tirumla, who is a mother of three, said they don t know what to do, because the lease ended in October and now they have nowhere to go. She said: “We were just so grateful to the RAGS Foundation who heard our cries and is helping us.”
The eThekwini Municipality said they are working towards finding shelter for all affected flood victims. EThekwini Mayor, Mxolisi Kaunda said from the original 120 mass care centres, the municipality has reduced them to 58. He vowed that the remaining mass care centres will be closed by 15 December, as he helped some of displaced Tongaat residents to Conway Farm on 10 November. He said: “The City has successfully secured 13 family-friendly buildings to accommodate displaced residents. The process of moving families into these buildings is underway. Around 163 families moved to Conway Farm which will result in the oThongathi and La Mercy halls and Caneland Training Centre mass care centres being closed. For more information or to assist RAGS with helping flood victims, contact Vassie Govender on 084 403 0351.
