NELSPRUIT – Flood repairs are estimated to cost the province R535 million. In an updated report on flood disasters in Mpumalanga, the executive noted that the estimated cost for flood-damage recovery and rehabilitation totalled this amount.
Premier Mr David Mabuza’s cabinet announced that it had approved the declaration of the state of disaster in the province by cooperative governance and traditional affairs minister Mr Richard Baloyi. The flood disasters negatively affected communities, and the ministry agreed to declare a state of disaster after all the necessary processes have been followed.
Earlier this year the executive council dispatched a political and technical team comprising MECs and heads of departments to the affected municipalities of Nkomazi, Bushbuckridge and Mkhondo. A total of 254 houses had reportedly been flooded.
The rain resulted in sudden increased river flows and dam levels, flooding and water logging of low-lying areas causing damage to infrastructure. A total of 12 fatalities were recorded.
Aside from the infrastructure, the estimated costs resulted from providing blankets, collapsible structures, tents, food parcels, and search-and-rescue missions through joint response teams from various sectors, according to Mr Zibonele Mncwango, spokesman for the premier.
