For years the City of Cape Town’s Disaster Risk Management Centre co-ordinated relief efforts for disasters in the city. It usually did a good job. But in 2018 the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) took over this function — and it’s off to a terrible start. Fire victims are battling to restore their lives after a fire destroyed their shacks in Wallacedene‚ Kraaifontein‚ in February. Community leader Thobani Mathole said: "Residents are used to getting disaster relief from government immediately after a fire destroys their shacks. Now‚ they wonder why the government is not helping them." Mathole said the Wallacedene fire victims did not receive food‚ blankets and a once-off grant after the fire. About a dozen people are affected. "Sassa officials arrived‚ took details of the fire victims and promised to bring food and blankets‚ but they never returned to the fire scene again‚" he said. In a media release titled "Sassa failure to deliver social relief after disasters hurts ...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.