DA commends City of Tshwane’s response to flooding

Issued by Solly Msimanga MPL – DA Gauteng Provincial Legislature Caucus Leader
12 Dec 2019 in Press Statements

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng would like to applaud the work done by the City of Tshwane officials over the past week in areas that experienced heavy flooding. This is contrary to the arrogant posturing of Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Lebogang Maile, that the City of Tshwane is dysfunctional.

During this week, the Emergency Services Department (ESD), the South Africa Police Service (SAPS) and Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) rescued numerous people affected by the flooding as indicated below:

  • 3 people from Supersport ParknInformal Settlement
  • 2 people from Nellmapius bridge
  • 5 people from Jan Smuts ave Centurion from a vehicle
  • 2 people from Eerstefabrieke from the roof of a shack
  • 1 person from Sefakho Makgatho bridge
  • 1 person from Tsamaya bridge in Annlin
  • 76 people from Centurion Lake Hotel rescued/evacuated by ESD (1 patient transported to Unitas)
  • 3 people from Summer place
  • 6 people from Bronkhorstspruit scrapyard
  • 4 people from Ramo Park – Bronkhorstspruit from the roof of a vehicle
  • 6 people from Bronkhorstspruit dam from the roof of a vehicle
  • 10 people from Jankothlolo streetrescued from the roof of the house by community
  • 4 CoT Employees rescued from offices at Bronkhorstspruit dam with the assistance of SAPS
  • 15 people evacuated from Eerstefabrieke church
  • 13 people rescued from on top of shack with the assistance of SAPS, TMPD and ESD with boats at Eerstefabrieke
  • 2 Children Eerstefabrieke

In addition, 150 people who were trapped in a church due to floods were rescued in Mamelodi, while 10 people were rescued along the Hennops River. Furthermore, the City has also arranged for those left displaced by the floods to be housed in a community centre.

The DA commends the work done by the Acting Mayor of Tshwane, Abel Tau and members of his Mayoral Committee as well as the DA councillors for their extraordinary efforts to bring relief to the affected residents.

The DA-led government remains committed to ensuring that those affected by the severe flooding is given the assistance that they need.