SADC Ambassadors and High Commissioners Pledge Solidarity to Flood Victims
Article and images by Sibongile Dlangalala
On Saturday 28 January 2023, families of victims of devastating floods which ravaged KwaZulu-Natal in April 2022 received food vouchers from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Group of Ambassadors and High Commissioners.
The SADC is a Regional Economic Community comprising 16 Members States; Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Accompanied by KwaZulu-Natal Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube, the delegation visited a Transitional Emergency Accommodation (TEA) facility on Point Road which accommodates 95 families identified for the programme and is currently accommodating flood victims which were previously placed at Umlazi V Section and Isiphingo Halls.
Last year, the MEC for Human Settlements and Public Works Dr Ntuthuko Mahlaba carried out a massive relocation exercise which saw flood victims being relocated from mass care centres to more decent accommodation units known as TEAs.
The Premier expressed gratitude for the visit, “As fellow Africans your gesture warms the hearts of the people of our province of KwaZulu-Natal, one day we will rise from this devastation,” said the Premier.
Upon handing over the vouchers, His Excellency Acting Ambassador at the Embassy of the Republic of Congo, Mr Tab Tshikomb Juvenal assured all flood victims of the support from the Embassy he represents.
We are here to bring a message of hope and solidarity, know that our fellow African brothers and sisters are praying for your recovery from this devastation,” said his Excellency Juvenal.
The visit by the SADC Ambassadors and High Commissioners came as a formal pledge for solidarity and presentation of good faith by fellow African Countries towards the plight facing South Africans.
