Survivors of building collapse 'falling through the cracks'

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GEORGE NEWS AND VIDEO - A seeming lack of a clear strategy to assist the survivors of the Neo Victoria building collapse after their discharge from hospital, has seemingly left them fending for themselves - in uncertain circumstances, trying to make sense of the traumatic experience and several still healing from physical injury.

"They were superbly managed in hospital, discharged into squalor in Thembalethu and are now destitute," said Rotarian Donald Goldfain.

"Some received food parcels, some did not, some are partially registered at Labour and Department of Social Development (DSD) and some are not. They face eviction from their shacks because there is no income. No one has contacted them and in our opinion at least one needs medical care.

"These are amputees and people with broken limbs and some who are basically immobile and helpless. George and our community covered ourselves in glory in pulling these survivors out of the rubble and saving lives. The country applauded, but now they do not know who to turn to."

Caring individual

Their plight was brought to Rotary's attention last week. Savern Oroogi, a caring Georgian from the local Bahá'í community who assisted victims from the very beginning as a Portuguese interpreter, remained involved with those she got to know while at the civic centre and in hospital.

She helps them to get to a doctor, fetches prescriptions, brings food and gives much-needed emotional support. But almost two months since the building collapsed on 6 May, Oroogi realised that she would not be able to handle it all on her own.

She turned to her neighbour, Rotarian Wilhelm van der Vyver, for help. He alerted the club president, Di Kershaw, and since then the predicament of the survivors has been brought to the media's attention and a meeting was called for Monday 1 July at the regional office of DSD.

Garden Route Disaster Management, Labour, George Municipality, members of Rotary and Muriel Hau-Yoon, a volunteer who has also been actively involved in humanitarian relief during the collapse, as well as DSD social workers were present. Kenneth Mazaleni, acting lead for the humanitarian support cluster, chaired the meeting.

Incomplete victims list

Said Wouter Jacobs, coordinator of Garden Route Disaster Management, "The purpose was to identify gaps in the humanitarian relief and psychosocial support system. One of the main challenges identified was that humanitarian relief was done in silos."

He said it was discovered that the victims list that DSD was working on, was incomplete, which might have resulted in victims or their next of kin falling through the cracks.

A consolidated disaster beneficiary list of all victims and survivors and their relatives was to be created on Wednesday 3 July. DSD would use this list for a needs analysis on what has been done and who still needs help.

In an official response to a query from the newspaper, DSD said, "DSD will continue to provide psychosocial support to the families it was able to trace.

"DSD was asked to conduct a needs assessment of these families, and make the necessary referrals to the various organisations. The distribution of funds and/or donations remains the responsibility of the receiving organisations. Families needing to be assessed can visit the local office so they can be referred to the relevant organisations."

Municipal fund

Asked about the municipal fund started for donations for victims during the collapse, Chantèl Edwards, head of communications at George Municipality, said the donations were received from about 148 individuals and organisations and totalled R173 000.

A memorandum of agreement has been finalised and signed with Famsa (Families South Africa) that will be administering the funds on behalf of the municipality.

"They will ensure that reporting and governance controls are in place. The funds were transferred to Famsa last week. Structures have been put in place to coordinate the relief efforts of the many different organisations involved, which includes George Municipality, and as needs are received for individuals, these will be evaluated for the best method of assistance."