Tongaat Welfare Society accounts for R929 000 in tornado relief funds

THE Tongaat Child and Family Welfare Society has provided a detailed financial account of nearly R1 million in tornado relief donations at their annual general meeting.

- MONISHKA GOVENDER

With 70 homes repaired and plans for 25 more, the organisation addressed public concerns about fund allocation while facing questions from community members about transparency and construction quality.

In the aftermath of the June 3 disaster last year, the Tongaat Disaster Relief Centre was established — a collaboration of the welfare society, the Tongaat Civic Association, the Tongaat Hindu Unity Forum and the Vishwaroop Temple.

Harold Maistry, an executive member of the welfare society, outlined the relief operation, which was executed in three phases:

@ Phase 1: Emergency response, including the provision of hot meals and temporary shelters.

@ Phase 2: Distribution of food hampers, clothing and furniture.

@ Phase 3: Long-term rebuilding efforts focused primarily on uninsured homes.

The tornado left a trail of destruction affecting around 7 000 formal and informal homes and displaced nearly 17 000 residents.

Maistry said rebuilding efforts had so far prioritised uninsured households.

“A technical team consisting of engineers, architects and quantity surveyors assessed the structural damage, after which repair work began. Roofs, doors, and windows were the primary focus,” he said.

Progress and housing repairs:

Maistry said to date, 70 homes had been repaired, with structural assessments offered pro bono at both insured and uninsured properties. The repair work by the welfare society included:

@ Gopalall Hurbans Road (1 house): Rebuilt brick walls, plastering, replaced aluminum windows and sliding doors, and both front and back doors.