Free State communities, schools appeal for help after heavy rainfall ravages homesteads

Several areas in Free State experienced severe flooding over the weekend, resulting in a state of emergency being declared. Local residents have called on the government to provide immediate assistance.

The recent storms and subsequent flooding in the Province has resulted in the damage to infrastructure, where schools and homesteads were destroyed by flashy floods.

Some of the damage reported at schools include structural and roof damage, leaking roofs and flooded classrooms, furniture damage, blocked drainage systems, damage to electrical works, and collapsing mobile classrooms.

Residents of Boshof in the Free State whose homes have been flooded due to heavy rain, have called on the Tokologo Local Municipality to provide them with permanent, safe housing.

A mop up operation has begun as these frustrated residents try to make their living conditions bearable every time it rains, anxiety creeps in and they already know that the rain will damage their belongings.

“We are here to take out the water in the house, because every year when it’s raining, there’s water in the house and the house is not well, this water penetrates through the walls,” says Dimakatso Lelala, one of the concerned residents.

Over 30 households in the area have been affected by the heavy downpours. The affected residents who live in dilapidated RDP houses believe temporary structures will not resolve their plight.

Free State schools devastated and affected by floods have appealed for assistance from the government as they were badly flooded with extensive damage to desks, chairs and furniture.

The national treasury has recently announced that over R372 million will be allocated to municipalities impacted by floods, with a focus on funding more than 29 projects in the Free State region to address flood-related issues.

According to the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Thembi Nkadimeng, these funds are earmarked to facilitate urgent repairs, reconstruction, and infrastructure rehabilitation. 

“The focus is to ensure access to clean, reliable water and essential government facilities for affected communities,” she explained. 

The Minister was addressing the media in Vryheid, KwaZulu-Natal, on Tuesday, where she released details of the funds disbursed to municipalities and provinces for disaster interventions.