Certain municipalities given funds, but Mpumalanga government still waiting
Two roads that are mainly used by tourists are still closed as the provincial government is still waiting for grants to start with the repairs after the devastating floods earlier this year.
The Mpumalanga government is still waiting for funds from the National Treasury (NT) to start repairing the provincial roads damaged by the floods in February.
Some municipalities have received their grants from the NT to start with the repairs.
The Mpumalanga Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport’s spokesperson, Bongani Dhlamini, said it has not yet received its allocation for the repair of provincial road infrastructural damages.
“The department is still awaiting communication from the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) and National Department of Transport regarding the request for assistance. As soon as allocations are made, the department will commence with the repairs of approved sites.”
ALSO READ: Truck catches fire on Kaapsehoop Road
He also said if funding had been made available by June, the department would have tried to finish all repairs by December, before the peak rainfall period.
Dhlamini said the R536 between Hazyview and Sabie remains closed, as does the R40 between Barberton and the Josefsdal Border Post, located on the Barberton Makhonjwa Geotrail. The busy R40 next to Klipkopjes Dam continues to operate on a stop-and-go basis.
Some of the affected municipalities in the province confirmed that they have received their grants.
Nkomazi Local Municipality received R16m and has prioritised to repair the water and road infrastructure and has already advertised for tenders to secure a service provider.
ALSO READ: Ambulance hijacked and paramedics attacked at clinic between White River and Hazyview
The City of Mbombela also received its share of R11.8m, but did not divulge which projects are going to be prioritised or if it is in the process of securing service providers to undertake the repairs.
The NDMC spokesperson, Legadima Leso, insisted that it has completed its assessment and submitted everything to the NT to make the funds available.
“I can confirm that some of the municipalities received their funds. Any matter regarding the grants must be referred to the NT,” he said.
The NT was not available for a comment at the time of publishing.
