KNYSNA NEWS - The People’s Movement for Change (PMC) has called for an investigation into the distribution of emergency relief materials in parts of Knysna following the recent heavy rainfall.
In a letter to the acting municipal manager, the organisation raised concerns about the allocation of gunplast sheeting and sandbags distributed to residents affected by the adverse weather conditions.
The PMC said that some relief materials may not have reached intended beneficiaries and questioned whether approved lists of recipients were consistently followed during the distribution process.
The organisation also expressed concern about reports that some recipients may not have been on official lists compiled through municipal channels.
The PMC has requested that the municipality investigate the matter, strengthen oversight measures and, where necessary, improve controls governing future disaster relief distributions.
Responding to a media enquiry from the Knysna-Plett Herald, the municipality said assistance was provided to affected residents following a verification process co-ordinated through the joint operations centre (JOC).
According to the municipality, requests for assistance were assessed by officials from Law Enforcement, Integrated Human Settlements and Building Control before any relief materials were issued.
“The municipality maintains proper distribution records to ensure accountability and oversight throughout the process,’ it said.
It added that the provision of emergency relief material is subject to available budget allocations, operational capacity and applicable municipal policies, with assistance prioritised according to verified need and the outcomes of on-site assessments.
The municipality also said it takes any reports of misuse or misappropriation of municipal resources seriously. It encouraged the PMC or any other party in possession of evidence of wrongdoing to report the matter to the police for investigation through the appropriate legal channels.
“The municipality will not respond to political statements or allegations that are not supported by evidence,” it said.
At this stage, no independent findings have been made regarding the allegations and no formal investigation has been announced.
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