GOOD Speech by Brett Herron,
GOOD Secretary-General & Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament
22 August 2024
Note to editor: This was the speech delivered by GOOD Secretary-General & Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament during today’s debate on the pact of climate disasters on infrastructure in the Western Cape.
Speaker
1. Climate disasters have disproportionately affected the most vulnerable and marginalised people in the Western Cape exacerbating existing inequalities and adding disproportionate burdens on the poor.
2. This is because of the lasting apartheid legacy of disparate investment and development which this government has failed to address.
3. While we have gone from drought to flooding – and the impact on infrastructure is costly and severe – there are still too many people who live without adequate infrastructure or with no real public infrastructure.
4. For those people climate disasters are perpetual.
5. During droughts, these communities face acute water shortages as they rely on communal taps or water deliveries, which become even scarcer during crises like the “Day Zero” drought in Cape Town.
6. During floods, and fires, shacks are easily damaged or destroyed, leaving families homeless or forcing them into temporary shelters.
7. For those who have work in the agriculture sector, droughts and other climate disasters have led to reduced crop yields, job losses, and income insecurity, pushing farmworkers deeper into poverty.
8. And, water scarcity and disruptions caused by climate disasters have led to rising costs for basic necessities, such as food and water, further straining the financial resources of vulnerable and middle income households.
9. In Cape Town we are all still paying the drought levy – which was meant to be a temporary levy to cover the costs of water reticulation – absurdly based on the size of your pipe – but which has become a permanent fixture.
10. The Province needed a resilience plan yesterday. The Premier has promised a focus on climate change. The plan will obviously have to address:
• Upgrading Informal Settlements: by improving housing quality, providing secure land tenure, and ensuring access to basic services like water, sanitation, electricity, and drainage systems.
• Flood Mitigation: Implement flood mitigation measures such as improved drainage systems, retention ponds, and green infrastructure.
• Fire Safety: Enhance fire safety through firebreaks, community firefighting resources, and fire-resistant building materials. Educate residents on fire prevention and emergency response.
Media Enquiries:
Janke Tolmay, GOOD Media Manager
Cell: 073 367 1223
Email: janke@forgood.org.za
Brett Herron, GOOD Secretary-General & Member of Western Cape Provincial Parliament
Cell: 082 518 3264
Email: bretth@forgood.org.za