By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
The District Development Model (DDM) in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality has launched a Disaster Operation Centre in Ganyesa. This comes after the sporadic raging veld fires that had engulfed the area a few weeks ago.
Over 90 312 hectares of farmland have been destroyed. The acting mayor of Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality, Solly Matobo who also serves as the Member of Mayoral Committee (MMC): Economic Development, Tourism and Agriculture said they will use the centre to identify the affected stakeholders to enable the various government institutions to and private sector to provide assistance and support thereof.
“The centre is located at Barolong Boo-Tlou le Tau Tribal Authority offices and will assist us in speeding up what is required in order to sustain affected farmers by bringing them back to their normal lives.
“Currently, the veld fire has subsided and the Working on Fire and other specialised teams within the region have been and are hard at work to contain and avert possible future damages by creating fire belts around the farms,” Matobo said.
He further said, there is a need for this operation as they will direct all plethora stakeholders to work as a collective under the DDM for better achievement of “one plan, one budget” on integration and collaboration of three spheres of government.
Matobo added, it is important for all departments to be involved and submit their reports to the centre on daily basis for weekly consolidation in order to deal with damages caused by veld fires and holistic support to the affected parties.
“All municipalities and sector departments with regard to silo mentality or operations, operation centre or war room would be here to reach out to all affected stakeholders in the district,” he said.
The Kagisano Molopo Local Municipality acting mayor, Morebodi Mosarwa said: “We declare unwavering support to the centre and its objectives. We further encourage implementation of the post-fire programmes such as vaccination to the animals and other agreed upon commitments.”
Meanwhile, the Barolong Boo Tlou le Tau Tribal Authority chief, Kgosi Thato Letlhogile said: “The launch of this kind is long overdue as this will enable us to work directly with government representatives. This will also assist in speeding-up service delivery issues in our area.
“It took some time to declare the area a disaster, but we would wait even though there is no formal application submitted. However, the process of gathering all the facts for the province to determine that should be afforded.”
The Guardian 