Ladysmith and Dannhauser municipalities have obtained a combined sum of R18,275,000 to aid in disaster interventions, prompted by a series of floods across KwaZulu-Natal. Meanwhile, Newcastle finds itself without similar assistance.
This follows the Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Thembi Nkadimeng, divulging what monies had been released to local municipalities to contend against disasters.
During a media briefing held in Vryheid on Tuesday, 9 April 2024, Minister Nkadimeng explained that the impact of disasters in South Africa had far-reaching consequences and saw millions worth of Rands being allocated to implement interventions against similar disasters.
“Perhaps before we provide an update on our efforts, we must acknowledge the gravity of the situation we have faced since 2018 as a result of national disasters such as drought and COVID-19. The devastating floods, such as those experienced in KZN in 2022, triggered by severe weather events, stand as one of the most significant natural disasters in the history of our country. These disasters have not only left a trail of destruction in their wake but have also broken family structures, disrupted communities, endangered livelihoods and put a lot of strain on our existing infrastructure,” stated Nkadimeng.
The Minister highlighted that the scenes of devastation and hardship witnessed in the aftermath of these disasters served as a reminder of the challenges that officials continued to confront in their collective pursuit of improving disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and moving towards a more resilient state.
“It is in such times of crisis that it is binding upon us as a government that cares for the people to provide aid and support to those affected. Working through the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC), we have managed to allocate funds through the grants to disaster-stricken areas, thereby playing a crucial role in facilitating the recovery and rebuilding process. These funds are not merely financial assistance, but rather they represent hope, resilience, and the promise of a better tomorrow,” highlighted Nkadimeng.
Moreover, the allocation of these funds after a disaster, the Minister pointed out, allowed for the immediate provision of essential services and resources to affected communities.
Whether it was providing emergency shelter, medical assistance, or food and water supplies, these funds ensured that the basic needs of survivors were met during their time of greatest need. The NDMC also continued to coordinate different funding streams as more disasters took place across different parts of the country.
“We also welcome the involvement of all stakeholders as disaster response is a coordination of efforts from various sectors. For example, the Department of Social Development is responsible for humanitarian relief and psychosocial support. All various sectors are expected to make a contribution to the affected communities in line with their sectoral mandate,” said Nkadimeng.
According to the Minister, the NDMC, in the 2022/23 financial year, allocated a substantial amount of R 3, 835 billion toward relief and recovery initiatives.
A significant portion of this allocation, totalling R 516 million from the Municipal Disaster Response Grant, was disbursed to 17 municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape provinces. These funds were specifically designated to aid in the urgent repair and restoration of damaged infrastructure, ranging from critical water and sanitation facilities to vital road networks and bridges.
“The completion of these projects by the end of January 2023 marks a significant milestone in our collective efforts to rebuild and fortify communities against future calamities,” said the CoGTA Minister.
Furthermore, recognising the ongoing need for sustained support, an additional allocation of R 3.3 billion was made available through the Unavoidable and Unforeseeable facility of the National Treasury. This funding has benefitted 15 municipalities across the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and Western Cape, aimed at further enhancing infrastructure resilience and sustainability, adhering to the principle of “building back better.”
Municipalities are said to be finalising the implementation of these projects, ensuring that communities are equipped with infrastructure capable of withstanding future challenges.
In addition, the Minister pointed out that in the fiscal year 2023/24, the National Treasury approved an allocation of R 1, 844 billion to address the lingering effects of disasters across multiple provinces, including Western Cape, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, Northwest, KwaZulu-Natal, and Gauteng. These funds are earmarked to facilitate urgent repairs, reconstruction, and rehabilitation of infrastructure, with a focus on ensuring access to clean, reliable water and essential government facilities for affected communities.
Following the allocation approval, the National Treasury, last month (March 2024) released an amount of R372 million from the Municipal Disaster Response Grant (MDRG) for flood intervention measures in 36 municipalities.
In the distribution of funds, the following allocations have been approved for KZN:
- Dannhauser Local Municipality: 3 projects totalling R6,500,000
- Alfred Duma (Ladysmith) Local Municipality: 10 projects totalling R11,775,000
- Mpofana Local Municipality: 8 projects totalling R10,000,000
- Ugu District Municipality: 11 projects totalling R9,950,000
- Ndwendwe Local Municipality: 2 projects totalling R10,450,000
- Umdoni Local Municipality: 7 projects totalling R9,400,000
- Umlalazi Local Municipality: 5 projects totalling R8,500,000
- Mtubatuba Local Municipality: 10 projects totalling R9,868,000
- Maphumulo Local Municipality: 9 projects totalling R11,700,000
According to the Minister, the allocation of disaster grants comes with stringent reporting and compliance measures to ensure transparency and accountability in the utilisation of funds. Organs of state are mandated to submit monthly, quarterly, and annual reports to the NDMC, covering both financial and non-financial aspects of their disaster management initiatives.
Nkadimeng explained that recognising the importance of technical expertise in accurately assessing damages and overseeing reconstruction efforts, the NDMC collaborates closely with the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agency (MISA).
Leveraging MISA’s engineering resources, the NDMC ensures comprehensive assessment and verification of damages, as well as access to technical advice necessary for the approval of funding support.
To oversee the implementation of projects and ensure adherence to quality standards, the NDMC, Provincial Disaster Management Centers (PDMC), MISA, and relevant sector departments conduct regular site visits to municipalities. Led by the Head of Disaster Management Centers, these visits provide an opportunity for stakeholders to engage directly with municipalities, assess the progress of projects, and uphold the principle of “building back better.”
While CoGTA announced how much funding had been allocated for disaster interventions. one could not forget that Newcastle endured heavy flooding in 2023 that made national headlines. The flooding impacted large parts of the CBD, as multiple businesses were flooded, roads were closed, and large parts of the residential area in Paradise.
To read more on the flooding in Newcastle, click here.
While the 2023 floods in Newcastle saw people evacuated from their homes, and businesses enduring extensive damage due to the floods, the community is known to have suffered similar flooding incidents in the past with the Newcastle Municipality having to implement interventions to safeguard the town from future disasters.
As stated by the Newcastle Municipality in February 2024, in addition to forming a flood response group to monitor water levels, it has implemented a programme to clean stormwater drains to mitigate the risk of future flooding.
To read more, click here.
As several KZN municipalities take the necessary steps to avert future disasters, while Newcastle Municipality did not benefit, what are your thoughts? Share your views in the comment section below.
