Minority parties call for rain-damaged Joburg to be declared disaster
A group of minority parties in Johannesburg has called on Mayor Mpho Phalatse to declare the damage caused by last week’s rain a disaster.
Thursday’s storm in Joburg led to severe damage and flooding in several areas, including Soweto and the west of Johannesburg.
Several areas also remain without electricity as City Power struggles to keep up with the sheer number issues plaguing the grid.
The minority parties’ leader Margaret Arnolds says opposition parties have no power to improve the situation, and therefore government needs to do its job.
“This is a disaster and rightfully so, we are calling for it to be officially declared as a disaster. We are also calling the mayor and the executives to deal with it.
“South Africa Weather Services have predicted that it will rain again on Sunday and the exact same thing will happen.
“We are hoping that the disaster management will come in, together with the city executives and ensure the issues at hand are dealt with. We have to ensure that we place people and take them away from the flood line."
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