The devastating floods that ravaged the Western and Eastern Cape during September have been declared a national disaster.
Also read: Decision to be made on WC state of disaster due to flood damage
The National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) says the declaration will allow for collaborative efforts between all levels of government to address the damage caused by heavy rains during the Heritage Day long weekend.
‘We are pleased with this declaration, as it now enables all three spheres of government to work together to fund and repair the damage left in the wake of the unprecedented rains experienced over the Heritage Day Long Weekend in September,’ says Anton Bredell, MEC for local government, environmental affairs and development planning.
He notes that the disaster classification enables the provincial government to seek relief funds from the NDMC. ‘These funds are crucial to support the extensive recovery and repair efforts needed for public infrastructure, including buildings, roads, bridges, and water networks.’
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As reported by The Citizen, damages caused by the September floods amount to R441 million for provincial infrastructure as well as an additional R154 million for municipal damages. ‘We will now request the National Disaster Management Centre to approach the National Treasury with these numbers. There is no certainty on how much or when we will receive any support,’ says Bredell.
The Provincial Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning has granted verbal approval for 196 of 238 applications for emergency repairs in rivers and streams via Section 30A of the National Environmental Act, which provides the department with the authority to direct a person (verbally, followed by a written directive) to conduct mitigation efforts in the event of an emergency.
As per the latest data by the provincial Department of Infrastructure, 22 roads still remain inaccessible. During the peak of the unprecedented rains, the N1 and N2 highways were among more than 150 roads that were temporarily closed. Since then, repairs for roads that link communities and are crucial for economic activities have been prioritised.
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