GOOD Statement by Patricia Dixon ,
GOOD West Coast District Municipality Councillor
14 November 2024
The GOOD Party calls on the Swartland Municipality to intervene and stop the looming evictions of victims of the Riverlands Dam tragedy.
Families were left with nothing after four dams burst flooding Riverlands and surrounds.
Three months later residents have been dealt another blow, a looming deadline to vacate the Riverlands POP Centre by the 29th of November.
A recent site visit of the Riverlands POP Centre revealed that at least 30 people are still waiting on assistance from the Swartland Municipality.
As GOOD we welcome the decommissioning of the dams, as announced by the Department of Water and Sanitation.
This reactive step will go a long way to prevent another tragedy.
However it will do nothing to assist the victims left behind by the August flooding.
Just days after the tragedy the Swartland Municipality Mayor Harold Cleophas was flanked by MEC for Local Government, Anton Bredell assisting members of the community that had lost their homes and belongings.
But as the cameras lost interest, seemingly, so did the politicians.
As GOOD we urge the Swartland Municipality Mayor Harold Cleophas to assist those who need him most.
Media Enquiries:media@forgood.org.za