PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - The Bitou municipality has agreed to assist residents whose water supplies were contaminated as a result of the recent fires.
Several residents who are reliant on their own water supplies, are having issues with water contaminated with dust and soot.
Municipal manager Thabo Ndlovo has therefore offered to assist those in the Bitou area who need to clean their drinking water by the addition of a flocculant.
Those in need of assistance can email their contact details to local councillor Dave Swart on dswart@plett.gov.za.
In the meantime, Bitou mayor Peter Lobese expressed his views on the recent fires.
“The disaster that affected the Bitou community was a trial of immense magnitude. We as the local municipality could not foresee what devastation it would propagate throughout our beautiful town and we could not foretell what resources we would need to see our communities through these dire times,” Lobese said.
He added that he was humbled to see how the Bitou administration, together with local organisations like the Plettenberg Bay Crime Prevention Association, the local National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), security companies, police, various fire management units (FMUs) and other role players and individuals, had handled the situation.
“The well-coordinated setting up and operation of disaster relief centres at Plettenberg Bay Primary School, Piesang Valley community hall, Methodist church, Plett Community church near Santini, the Dutch Reformed church, Kranshoek multipurpose centre and Harkerville Forest Lodge, made a huge contribution in ensuring the effective management of this disaster. Our sincere gratitude goes to all the capable individuals who managed these centres and ensured that much-needed assistance reached communities and families even beyond the boards of our municipality.”
Lobese said the firefighters, the FMUs and all other volunteers, who battled the fires on behalf of the community, were the town’s heroes.
PRAISE TO COMMUNITY
“They have demonstrated a selfless and wholehearted devotion to the safety of our communities. A special vote of thanks to Ian Barnard and the family of the late Bradley Richards: their altruistic and courageous actions have not gone unseen, it epitomises the characteristics of true heroes.”
He added that “words of gratitude failed” him in an attempt to think of the appropriate words to thank the community for opening their hearts, their doors, devoting their time and all other efforts and resources to relief the impact that this disaster had.
“All NGOs, parastatals of government, volunteers and citizens of this country thank you for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers, thank you for your generous donations.”
Lobese said in order to determine the exact extent of the devastation and its impact on the affected people, the municipality is undertaking a survey and the affected people are requested to visit the municipal main office, municipal ward offices, and municipal libraries to complete the survey forms. The forms can also be obtained from the municipality’s website and after completing them, they can either be emailed or faxed to the relevant departments. “This survey will allow the municipality to determine the kind of assistance it needs to provide to the affected people of Bitou.
"People will also be able to get information on how to apply for assistance from the disaster relief fund and/or any other humanitarian assistance available. It should be noted that the available resources are limited. As a result the allocation of the assistance will be prioritised based on the merits of each case and on what the municipality is allowed to assist on in terms of its legal mandate.”
* Info: 044-501-3324 / firedamagesurvey@plett.gov.za
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