The Western Cape Government (WCG) expects a response from the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) on whether it should declare a state of disaster following extensive flood-related damage any time now.
Also read: WCG to apply for provincial disaster status due to flood damages
The provincial government announced in August that it would apply to the NDMC for a declaration of a provincial state of disaster after severe flooding devastated the region in June.
Wouter Kriel, spokesperson for Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning and MEC Anton Bredell, said that the NDMC informed the province that a response should be submitted by the end of the week.
According to News24, the NDMC visited the province to verify the damage. ‘Once they have quantified the costs, they will send us a letter of classification and we will be allowed to publish the declaration In the provincial gazette,’ says Kriel.
Last month, the Department of Local Government and the Western Cape Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning Anton Bredell presented a consolidated damage report to the cabinet, which revealed damages to the province to the tune of R703.3 million. This includes insured damages, damages not associated with the flooding, and the ability to reprioritise funding within existing budgets and unfunded damages.
Issuing a state of disaster will allow the WCG to request funding support from the national government, as the scope of damages is beyond the ability of the provincial fiscus.
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Andricus van der Westhuizen, DA spokesperson and chairperson of the Standing Committee on Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, has called on the national government to speed up the process.
Furthermore, News24 reports that the committee recently visited the Cederberg Nature Reserve to review the work that CapeNature is carrying out to reopen tourism facilities. According to Van der Westhuizen, CapeNature reserves in the province suffered nearly R25 million damages.
‘These damages are not covered by short-term insurance policies. The Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve alone suffered R15 million in damages, including severe damage to internal roads resulting in limited or no access to service hiking trail huts, Cape Canopy Tours, and research and firefighting infrastructure.
‘The highly popular camping site at Algeria in the Cederberg, is currently still inaccessible for normal caravans. CapeNature is doing its utmost to restore access in time for the festive season.’
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Also read:
Agricultural damage after recent floods estimated to cost millions
