Gastehuis-verblyf na huisbrand bevraagteken
"DIT is nie algemene praktyk om inwoners van Mokopane in 'n gastehuis te huisves indien hulle huis sou afbrand nie," sê Korny Dekker, DA wyksraadslid van wyk 31 in 'n brief aan Bosveld.
MOKOPANE – “DIT is nie algemene praktyk om inwoners van Mokopane in ‘n gastehuis te huisves indien hulle huis sou afbrand nie,” sê Korny Dekker, DA wyksraadslid van wyk 31 in ‘n brief aan Bosveld.
Dit volg nadat die Chueu’s se huis in Impalapark verlede Donderdagaand afgebrand het en die munisipaliteit vir hulle tydelike akkommodasie by ‘n gastehuis voorsien het.
“Hoe kan die munisipalteit jou as inwoner bystaan indien jou huis sou afbrand? Eerstens, glo en vertrou ons dat die nooddienste flink en professioneel sal optree na die beste van hulle vermoë om die noodsituasie onder beheer te kry. Die munisipaliteit sal jou en jou gesin tydelike tenthuisvesting bied. Komberse en basiese kospakkies kan ook gereël word. Dit is wat in normale omstandighede sal gebeur. Dit het, inteendeel, nog nie voorheen plaasgevind dat inwoners in ‘n gastehuis gehuisves word indien hulle huis afbrand nie. Dit moes nou wel noodgedwonge die naweek gedoen word, omdat daar geen noodtente by die plaaslike nooddienste beskikbaar was nie.”
“Daar word ook nou bewerings deur die eienaar van die huis gemaak dat die brandweer 45 minute geneem het om by die huis uit te kom en as gevolg daarvan het die munisipaliteit besluit om die inwoners se akkommodasie te betaal. Dit het volgens die plaaslike brandweerhoof slegs 11 minute geneem vandat die oproep gemaak is totdat die eerste water gespuit is. Die eienaars van die huis was nie by die huis nie en die brand is deur bure gerapporteer.
Wat gaan ons doen indien daar n noodsituasie in Mokopane sou ontstaan? Waar gaan ons genoeg gastehuise kry om dan skielik almal te akkommodeer,” vra Dekker.
Malesela Sekolelela, divisional head of communications at Mogalakwena Municipality, said, “yes it is true that the municipality is paying the bill at the guesthouse for the Chueu family after their house burnt down. The money paid by the municipality for the guesthouse and other services rendered by our fire department will be claimed from the family’s insurance because the house is insured. The money paid by the municipality is from the municipal disaster budget which assists in such incidents.”
“The fire department responded within 10 minutes after receiving a call. The municipality assisted to that level because the parents work in Marble Hall, the relatives reside in Rebone/Steilloop and their three children are attending school in town. Since the children are now writing exams, it will be straining for them to travel from the above mentioned places during this time of the year. It is winter and the municipality with 178 villages, is encountering similar fire accidents and we have to arrange temporary shelter (tents) for them. Currently the municipality has run out of tents as we experience similar incidents during winter and the other tents which belongs to the municipality are still with the fire victims. The municipality has ordered 10 tents that will be used during these incidents and they will be delivered by end of this month. The municipality is planning to order another 50 tents which will be on a standby.”
“If the need arises and there are no other alternative options, the municipality will see how they can accommodate the family. Should the municipality not have made this provision, people would still go to the media and say the municipality has done nothing while the family is suffering. The situation is dicey, but the arrangement of the guesthouse is only for a week which is until this coming Friday.”
