Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality is deceiving residents about disaster area

The Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality is deceiving the residents of this municipality after it was announced last week that the area where a devastating wildfire broke out on 16 September will be declared a disaster area. During this fire, 12 houses burned down and 37 other houses and structures were damaged. Legislation requires that when an area is declared a disaster area it must be published in the Government Gazette and the regulations of the disaster must be detailed. However, the disaster area has still not been officially announced in the Government Gazette.

When an area is declared a disaster area, it is supposed to be easier for those who have been hit hardest by a disaster to receive help. “However, AfriForum is concerned that if the disaster area is not officially announced in the Government Gazette with the accompanying regulations, this will lead to more uncertainty in the community. If this municipality has access to more funds that are supposed to bring relief in the disaster area and it is not properly regulated, the community will continue to suffer,” says Tarien Cooks, Disaster Management Specialist at AfriForum.

Last week, AfriForum met with the Phalaborwa community and other organisations about the wildfire. “During this meeting, the community highlighted two major concerns, namely water supply and pressure, as well as the vegetation that is getting out of hand in the town. The fire danger in this area is currently very high and uncontrolled vegetation and uncertainty about water supply contribute to the risk that another fire could break out in this town,” says Hendrik Kotze, AfriForum’s District Coordinator for the Waterberg.

The local AfriForum branch is currently helping to put the necessary contingency plans in place.