By REGINALD KANYANE
9 July 2025- The South African Union Council of Independent Churches (SAUCIC) on Wednesday welcomed the allocation of R1.2 billion earmarked for disaster relief across municipalities in the Eastern Cape, Western Cape as well as Kwa-Zulu Natal applauding measures put in place to ensure accountability. The allocation is against an estimated R6.3 billion needed for affected municipalities in the three provinces.
SAUCIC President Cardinal Archbishop Dr Modiri Patrick Shole said the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Department (COGTA) had earlier in the week announced that the first R151 million is to be released this month, followed by R798 million in August with the Eastern Cape set to receive the largest share of R504 million. Should commended strict controls that COGTA has put in place to track how funds were used, the progress of repairs and the quality of reconstruction.
“The monitoring and evaluation mechanisms and stringent measures put in place within the framework of the District Development Model (DDM) will deter opportunistic and corrupt elements that cannot resist the temptation to benefit at the expense of the plight of victims that have been left destitute.
“We express hope that the mobilized resources will alleviate the plight of victims particularly those left homeless who have to rebuild their lives,” he said.
Shole further said reconstruction must be characterised by integrity, transparency and delivery of quality infrastructure to ensure that there is no collusion, corruption and unnecessary delays during project implementation. He added SAUCIC had in the aftermath of the Eastern Cape disaster that claimed over 103 lives and left over 5000 homeless, commended government’s speedy intervention and appealed for compassion for victims.
“Coordination led by the Office of the Premier, COGTA and Departments of Human Settlements, Transport and Social Development had resulted in restoration of critical services such as water, electricity as well as roll-out of relief effort.
“The declaration of a State of Disaster to assist flood victims as well as deployment of members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) assisted by humanitarian organisations like the Gift of the Givers bolstered search including recovery operations within the OR Tambo and Amathole District Municipalities,” said Shole.
He said while the integrated government-wide responsiveness is commended, they applaud the role played by churches and traditional leaders in counselling families that lost their loved ones as part of supporting the Department of Social Development to render psycho social support. Shope emphasised that partnership between government, Faith-based organisations as well as civil society organisations is necessary for community development and tackling crisis of this nature including social ills together.
The Guardian 