Central SA
Support offered to Jagersfontein government officials─── MPHO MOHAPI 11:00 Tue, 11 Oct 2022
The Free State Department of Social Development is addressing the impact of the Jagersfontein disaster on government officials.
The department’s head of communications, Lindiwe Mnguni, says the department gathered on Tuesday morning 11 October 2022, to offer support to government officials who were affected by the tragedy. She says the aim is to ensure that every individual who was disadvantaged gets support, which was first been offered to community members.
"We have dedicated so much focus and interventions to the people of Jagersfontein, and have left our officials behind. So this is the department taking care of officials who were also affected, today they will be receiving the needed care”.
Mnguni adds that they will be assisting officials from the Department of Social Development, the Department of Education, the Department of Health, the Department of Home Affairs, the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), and the National Development Agency (NDA).
She says “the MEC for Social Development in the Free State, Ms Motlagomang “Mamiki” Qabathe, recognises the fact that whilst the government had put in place interventions to assist the affected communities of Jagersfontein, officials have also been affected. The MEC will therefore be issuing essential items such as kitchen packs, hygiene packs, etc”.
Mnungi urges community members to be considerate while giving donations. She pleads that people should avoid giving items that they do not wish to keep because of the bad state they are in. She says people should be considerate and offer items that they would also be happy to receive if they were in the same position.
OFM News previously reported that the Free State Department of Social Development has deployed a team of social workers to assist Jagersfontein residents affected by the mine dam wall that collapsed on 11 September 2022.
ALSO READ: Twelve social workers deployed to assist Jagersfontein Disaster victims
Twelve social workers have been deployed to assist affected residents with psychosocial services to all residents who were traumatised following the incident which left them homeless after their homes, cars, and other belongings were swiped away by a strong stream of sludge.
