By Anita Dangazele
Tensions escalated on Sunday in Kariega after flood victims took to the streets to protest against their imminent eviction from temporary shelters.
The move comes on the back of adverse weather warnings for most parts of the country.
The residents blocked Church Street in the Kariega CBD with burning tyres on Sunday morning.
They claim that the municipality wants to send them back to Lapland, the area from which they were evacuated earlier in June after floods ravaged the area.
Many have nothing to go back to.
During an oversight visit after the disaster, President Cyril Ramaphosa promised that the residents would be moved to temporary shelters within 30 days.
“The president promised that we would not go back to Lapland, he promised us temporary shelters within a month and now we’re being told by the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality to go back,” said a resident.
Another one added: “The rain is coming, the same rain that we were evacuated because of, is coming but we’re told to go back. How can we do that?
“Schools are reopening on Tuesday and our kids have to go back. The roads have not even been fixed, how will they get to school,” asked one resident.
Police spokesperson Captain Andre Beetge said Sunday was the last day they could stay at the temporary accommodation.
“The protesters are a group temporarily housed in a hall in Church Street, following the recent flood disaster that destroyed their houses.”
He said public order police responded and with the aid of the fire department, the barricade of burning tyres was put out and debris removed.
Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality officials were not immediately available for comment.
Pictured Above: Flood victims burning tyres in Church Street, Kariega.
Source: X
