IN an attempt to deal with drought in the Chris Hani District Municipality (CHDM) area, the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Department (Cogta) gave millions of rands to the district authority, but that money seems to have fallen on dry ground, as it was never spent and was returned to provincial government.
These were the assertions made by Cogta MEC, Xolile Nqatha, in Cacadu (formerly Lady Frere.
He was addressing the crowd during an event where the Gift of the Givers had come to outline a project in which they would construct boreholes for drought-stricken villages in the area. This followed a request by Emalahleni Local Municipality (ELM) for 42 boreholes.
“We are faced with tremendous drought due to climate change. This causes pressure for us to deliver water to our people. Water is life. As Cogta we gave CHDM R2 million to fight drought. Unfortunately though, that money was not used and was returned to provincial government. We are going to fight that very hard,” Nqatha said.
Of the 42 boreholes requested by the local authority, Gift of the Givers have approved seven in the interim. Gift of the Givers also donated 500 food parcels, clothes from Woolworths and they will also donate school uniforms.
ELM Mayor, Zanele Koni, said the unemployment rate was very high, with most families dependent on child and old age grants.
She said the municipality did not only look to Cogta and the treasury for help but was forming partnerships with NGOs. The municipality could not provide for all the needs of its people but would go out of its way to try, she said.
Gift of the Givers project manager, Ali Sablay, said, “We are serving the people in the spirit of Nelson Mandela, Chris Hani, Albertina and Walter Sisulu and OR Tambo. I am sure they are proud where they are.
As Gift of the Givers, we thank you for the hospitality you have shown us. It is always an honour going from town to town to see how we can help.”
In his closing remarks, Nqatha appealed to everyone to protect themselves and others from COVID-19.
“We might be on lockdown level 1 but the virus is not on level 1. We must feel lucky that we are still alive,” he said.
