By Lebone Rodah Mosima
Deputy Minister in the Presidency Nonceba Mhlauli urged South Africans to register for the upcoming local government elections on Thursday, using a disaster-relief handover in flood-hit Vredenburg to punt the role municipalities play in basic services and emergency response.
Speaking in the Western Cape town after severe weather damaged homes and disrupted livelihoods, Mhlauli said the floods had again exposed how disasters hit poor households hardest.
“When disaster strikes, it is often the poorest and most vulnerable who are affected the most. For them, the loss of a roof, a bed, school uniforms, food, or basic household items is not a minor inconvenience,” she said. “It is a major setback that threatens dignity, security, and hope.”
The handover, conducted with the Al Imdaad Foundation, provided relief packages and essential supplies to affected residents after a cold front brought heavy rain, flooding and freezing temperatures to parts of the province.
Mhlauli said government was working with the National Disaster Management Centre, provincial and local authorities, and community organisations to mobilise emergency help and longer-term support.
“That is why government is intensifying relief efforts in all affected areas across the country,” she said.
She also used the event to call for voter participation ahead of the 4 November local government elections, saying municipalities were responsible for services that directly affected daily life, including water, sanitation, roads, electricity, housing and local development.
“I therefore urge every eligible citizen to ensure that they are registered to vote,” Mhlauli said.
“Do not underestimate the importance of your vote.”
The appeal comes as municipal service delivery, infrastructure failures and disaster readiness are expected to be central issues in this year’s local polls.
Mhlauli said the country’s 30th anniversary of the Constitution and three decades of social assistance through SASSA should remind government of its obligation to protect vulnerable communities.
“Our Constitution is more than a legal document. It is a living covenant between the people and the state,” she said.
She said social grants remained a key protection for poor households.
“For many households, a social grant is the difference between hunger and a meal, between despair and hope,” she said.
Mhlauli told residents the state would continue working with communities to rebuild.
“We see your struggles. We hear your concerns. And we are committed to working with you to rebuild homes, restore livelihoods, and strengthen your community against future challenges,” she said.
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