Winter housing crisis - parliamentary statement (12 April 2005)Every single year we witness devastating fires sweeping through informal settlements, and these are often combined with massive flooding in certain areas during the same period.
In the process tens of thousands of people are displaced and lose their belongings. Many lives are lost, those with employment have their job security threatened by the inability to attend work and school attendance plummets. These are predominantly poor and working class people who end up being plummeted into deeper poverty and suffering as a result of these disasters.
Given the absolute certainty and regularity of these occurrences the UDM appeals the relevant National, Provincial and Local Government Departments to explain why they have not done more to avert these tragedies. We also appeal to them to at least demonstrate that they have made the necessary advance preparations to deal with the thousands of displaced people. After all these are not unexpected events. If they have not made proper preparations they are guilty of gross negligence in dealing with a known problem.
