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"It is with great concern and sadness, that I have seen the devastation that the recent heavy Winter rains have caused the residents of the many informal settlements that surround Cape Town. I am most especially concerned about the many children, elderly and infirm; who are affected by the floods and accompanying cold weather. As usual, the SA Red Cross and the Salvation Army are immediately on the ground where the flood damage is at its worst, and the situation is also being closely monitored by officials from my Department. The SA Red Cross and the Salvation Army are offering material help and sustenance to those individuals and families whose homes have been flooded and in many cases destroyed. This help is in the form of blankets, warm clothing and meals. These two organisations work as 'rapid response' agents for my department (the Western Cape Department of Social Services and Poverty Relief), and when they present their final bill for the service that they have rendered to the flood victims, then it is settled by us. I wish to thank them for their speedy response in delivering good quality assistance to the flood victims and their families.

I also appeal to the city of Cape Town and most especially to their engineers, to help the flood victims and their families, by draining the flood-water that has accumulated and that has formed stagnant pools. We also need to seek out a longer-term solution to the flood problems that strike at our informal settlement dwellers every year at this time. I also thank the city of Cape Town for accommodating many of the flood victims in their community halls.

I further appeal to private businesses, large corporates, Church and sport organisations, NGOs, and members of the public to generously donate food, blankets and clothing to the SA Red Cross and the Salvation Army. They act as our agents, and they will donate these to the most needy and flood ravaged families.

I am currently in Pretoria for which I have hastily departed, in order to meet with the National Minister of Social Development (Dr Zola Skweyiya). I will request that he make more funds available for me to help my flood ravaged people here in the informal settlements of Cape Town. I will brief him of their plight, in an attempt to address this matter at the highest national level and with the seriousness that it deserves."

DAVID MALATSI
MINISTER OF SOCIAL SERVICES AND POVERTY RELIEF, PROVINCE OF THE WESTERN CAPE

Enquiries: Sam Dodgen, Tel: (021) 4835457/082 821 9018

Issued by the Office of the MEC of Social Services and Poverty Relief, Western Cape, 23 August 2001