Sihle Mkhize
The Qwabe family, who lost four young children in the floods over the weekend, were visited on Wednesday by President Cyril Ramaphosa as he travelled to the affected communities around KwaZulu-Natal.
The bodies of three of the children, all of whom are aged between three and eleven, have been recovered – but one child remains missing.
Their grandmother Nelisiwe Qwabe is devastated and broken. Accompanied by a neighbour, she told Scrolla.Africa that the president has promised to pay for her grandchildren’s funeral.
“President Ramaphosa promised to fund the funeral of my three grandchildren. I lost four kids, between the ages of three and eleven. The other one is still missing. As a result we have not decided which day to bury my kids,” said Nelisiwe from a temporary shelter, as her home was destroyed.
She recalled the night that they were separated from her. She said she was fast asleep with the children by her side when their shack was washed away by the floods.
Our team visited the scene where her zinc shack was washed away. The site is still hazardous, so the president was advised not to set foot there, but he did visit the safer place where the remaining Qwabe family has been temporarily sheltered.
“It’s devastating because I registered for an RDP house almost five years ago. But till today I was never granted my shelter. I doubt if human settlement processes are legitimate and not overshadowed by corruption,” she said.
A neighbour Nomfundo Mkhwanazi said most houses and shacks in Lindelani were built in river sand, a deeply precarious terrain, and easily upended during heavy rains.
“Our beloved government must act immediately especially for those people who live near river banks. He must build proper houses with dignity and a strong foundation. As you see this township is crowded and most people who live here are unemployed,” she said.
Scrolla.Africa discovered that this place has had no electricity, power and water since Saturday.
President Ramaphosa was accompanied by national and provincial leaders such as Police Minister Bheki Cele, CoGTA Minister Nkosazana Zuma, Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele and Premier of KZN Sihle Zikalala among others.
Image source: @PresidencyZA
