NEHAWU Statement On The Declaration Of National Statement Of Disaster Following The Floods In KZN and Eastern Cape
Tuesday April 19, 2022
The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union [NEHAWU] welcomes the declaration of National State of Disaster following the devastating floods in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape.
NEHAWU commends the move by the government to effectively respond to the devastating disaster in order to provide humanitarian relief, stability and recovery and also reconstruction and rebuilding of communities that were badly affected by the floods.
The magnitude of the damage caused by floods is beyond measure with more than 443 lives lost thus far and still some unaccounted for, people have lost their homes, belongings and have been displaced as a result of these floods. Basic services such as water, electricity and sanitation have been disrupted. There’s been massive damage to infrastructure, healthcare facilities, police stations...etc.
Whilst we welcome the intervention by government through the declaration of a national state of disaster, we call on the government to put in place checks and balances on how public funds and resources will be used. The government must ensure that monies and resources are not brazenly looted through rampant corruption. We don’t want a ‘Floods Corruption Scandal’ were public funds and resources are squandered and looted. We have seen through the COVID-19 pandemic how public funds were looted with no consequences at all.
We commend the brave men and women who have been working tirelessly to save lives and provide care to communities.
Lastly, we send our condolences to families that have lost their loved ones.
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Issued by NEHAWU Secretariat
Zola Saphetha (General Secretary) at 082 558 5968;
December Mavuso (Deputy General Secretary) at 082 558 5969;
Lwazi Nkolonzi (NEHAWU National Spokesperson) at 081 558 2335 or email: lwazin@nehawu.org.za Visit https://www.nehawu.org.za