“We can't go back to building houses on sand”: Bishop in South Africa after Deadly Floods

Referring to the poor service delivery and government’s failure to provide proper housing to the poor since the end of apartheid in 1994, the member of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) said there were gaps in addressing the plight of needy citizens. 

“We have enough resources in our country. But we respond with the billions only when there's a crisis and a disaster. Where are those billions, billions to build the houses for the poor and to create the jobs?” he posed.

The South African Catholic Bishop added, “We thought that our resurrection was in 1994; but we have been disappointed.”

He continued in reference to those affected by the recent floods in KwaZulu Natal Province, “It is not enough to restore what they had before. We can’t help them build on the sand again; that will be washed away in the next flood. We have to help them build on rock.”

There is need, the Bishop said, “to engage with those who have the power and the resources, those with influence to make things new. We must be agents that bring true dignity to the poor.”

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In its April 19 report, the UN entity, OCHA indicated that as a result of the torrential rains in KwaZulu Natal and Eastern Cape, at least 4,000 homes were destroyed and 9,000 others partially damaged. More than 40,000 people were also said to have been left destitute.

In the April 19 interview with ACI Africa, Bishop Frank described the aftermath of the floods as a very sad and depressing situation. He said, “Some families are desperately in mourning, having seen their loved ones washed away. I have seen bodies being recovered. So, it's a very sad, depressing situation.”

The OMI member added, “Houses have been swept away by these floods, either completely swept away or partially destroyed in the floods, with lots of landslides.”

Operations for missing persons continue in KwaZulu-Natal, Bishop Frank told ACI Africa, adding that the prices for grave sites have increased, and that the Church is looking at ways to help people bury their loved ones once the land has dried.

He explained, “One of the greatest needs now is the burial of loved ones. The grave sites are now costing between 4000 to 6000 Rands, and they can’t have these burials immediately, because the land is still soaked with water.”

“We have to wait a while and then find funds to help people to supplement what they have and what they might receive from the government to help with the burials”, he added.

Bishop Frank acknowledged with appreciation the solidarity among the people amid the challenging situation of floods. 

“What we see is that the communities are responding on the ground; neighbors are taking care of neighbors. And that's what we preach, in good times and in bad times; and we can see it now, that that's where the church is really working, that neighbors are helping and that people are responding; the community is responding”, the South African Bishop told ACI Africa April 19.

Sheila Pires is a veteran radio and television Mozambican journalist based in South Africa. She studied communications at the University of South Africa. She is passionate about writing on the works of the Church through Catholic journalism.