Mayors committee mobilises resources to help the needy

MAYORS from around KZN have committed to mobilise resources to respond to the immediate needs faced by communities following the recent attacks on economic hubs and small towns.

MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Sipho Hlomuka, alongside the Minister for Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural

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Development Thoko Didiza, convened a special meeting on Saturday with all mayors and municipal speakers, to consolidate local government’s response to the impact of the unrest.

These mayors provided updates on the extent of the damage suffered by their municipalities, with many small towns reported as having been seriously damaged.

They also committed to working closely with civil society, businesses and residents, to mark a turning point in the province’s response to the impact of the unrest which is estimated to have cost billions of rands in losses and damage.

During the meeting, Hlomuka and Didiza received updates on the mop-up operations and municipal response plans.

Millions of rands worth of municipal infrastructure suffered severe damage during the unrest, with municipalities having to halt services such as water tankers, municipal buses and frontline services, to limit the risk.

Since Thursday, 15 July municipalities have gradually returned services as the unrest began cooling down.

Didiza called on municipalities to avail their community halls and multi-purpose centres to any arm of the state, business and civil society, in the effort to ensure food security and provide aid to millions of residents who no longer have access to a place to buy food.

MEC Hlomuka also directed municipalities to ensure social cohesion in response to the outcries of racism following incidents of racial profiling that were reported in a number of communities.

‘It is important that as leaders we condemn racial profiling and any race-related incidents, considering our country’s history.

As municipalities, it is important that we solidify racial harmony within our communities through constructive engagement on this important issue,’ he said.