The Deputy Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation, Pam Tshwete, has confirmed that R54. 9 million has been allocated to the province to build new houses for people who were affected by floods in Deelpan and surrounding areas.

This follows after her visit to the area yesterday to monitor and assess the extent of the damage.

Tshwete also said that the biggest challenge the province is facing, is obtaining suitable land to build houses for affected residents.

ALSO READ: Minister to visit flood stricken Deelpan in North West

OFM News previously reported that the Deelpan village in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District experienced their first flood in December 2021, followed by another in February and March this year. It was reported that the floods were caused by heavy rainfall flowing into the village from other areas, as well as a saturated ground water table.

"We have a challenge that all people that are affected are on the wetland. A Wetland means we cannot, as government, build houses there because of climate change," said Tshwete.

She further said that the other challenge that they came across was that residents of Deelpan are not willing to relocate, because they don't want to stay far from the graves of their loved ones, among other issues.

ALSO READ: Cogta to secure houses for Deelpan families

North West premier Bushy Maape had tasked the provincial department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), with securing 200 housing units for flood affected families from Deelpan village in Tswaing.

OFM News