Bushbuckridge - Mpumalanga residents who suffered damage to their homes during the floods that lashed the province in February have been urged to come forward and get assistance.
Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Richard Baloyi, who visited the worst-affected families in Bushbuckridge this week, said ward councillors and officials from the provincial wing of the department were ready to help.
"Those who are not aware of the procedure should contact the councillors, who will advise them (on how to get assistance)," said Baloyi during a media briefing after visiting the families.
Baloyi added that the purpose of his visit was to assess progress made in the rehabilitation of the affected areas as well as in providing government relief to the affected families.
Baloyi, provincial Cogta MEC Madala Masuku and provincial Health and Social Development MEC Clifford Mkasi erected a tent and offered food to the Mathebula family.
Nkayiso Mathebula, 22, said she was happy about what government offered her family.
"We are very happy about what the government did for us and I hope that they will keep their promise of completing our house within three weeks. We were left in the open after our one-roomed house was washed away by the floods," said Mathebula.
She said her family had been sharing accommodation at a relative's house.
Baloyi also warned residents not to ignore weather warnings.
"People should take weather warnings seriously because natural disasters are a deadly thing. The elderly are especially the ones who ignore weather warnings," said Baloyi.
