CAPE TOWN: Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane is set to visit Cape Town today to oversee the delivery of building materials to communities devastated by recent fires. Accompanied by Deputy Minister Tandi Mahambehlala, Simelane will engage with residents of informal settlements affected by the disaster and assess the progress of emergency housing provisions, including rebuilding, relocation, restoration, and repairs.
According to South African Government News Agency, the ministers’ itinerary includes a visit to the Wag ‘n Bietjie informal settlement and Nomzamo in Strand, where a fire on Christmas Eve resulted in the tragic death of a 30-year-old man due to smoke inhalation and displaced more than 200 people. The visit is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. at the Dunoon informal settlement.
Last week, Simelane, along with the Western Cape MEC for Infrastructure, Tertius Simmers, and MMC Carl Pophaim, visited the affected informal settlements to assess the situation. In a social media post, Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis acknowledged the collaborative efforts between the city and the National Department of Human Settlements to expedite the delivery of reconstruction kits to those in need. Mayor Hill-Lewis expressed gratitude for the national cooperation in accelerating the aid process.