Dam wall burst | Disaster response teams in Jagersfontein

JAGERSFONTEIN - A disaster response team has been established by the Free State Social Development MEC to assist familiies affected by the Jagersfontein dam wall collapse.

Department spokesperson, Lindiwe Mnguni says they have received great support from various organisations and have managed to set up a food and clothing bank for those left homeless.

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She said, "the MEC immediately convened a team of management, a team of social workers and a team of community development practitioners."

"Then together with our social partners, that is SASSA, that is the NDA as well as the Red Cross and other associations that are affiliated or linked to the Red Cross."

"They immediately dispatched our social workers and community development workers to go and assess and they did not just assess but they assisted also in the evacuation of people because we realised that we cannot wait for emergency services to arrive before transporting especially the vulnerable to a place of safety."

"Then after that we started with the assessments. We started with looking as to how many people were affected and what kind of assistance can be brought to Jagersfontein."

"And Red Cross has been very helpful as well as Shoprite and Meals on Wheels. They've been providing food that is hot, hot meals, every day and we've also established a food and clothing bank so that as more organisations come to assist we also put them there."