With the KZN government assessing the damage caused by recent floods, it has emerged that the province has yet to access the R1b made available by the National Treasury to repair the destruction caused by the 2022 floods.

The Witness reports that in 2022, the National Treasury repeatedly stated that the R1b was available and that it was up to the KZN government to apply for the funds.

At the time, then-KZN Finance MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube disputed this claim.

“There is no R1b,” Dube-Ncube said.

Almost three years later, the fate of the R1b remains unclear.

When The Witness asked KZN Treasury MEC Francois Rodgers — who was appointed in June last year — about the funds, he said he did not know where the money was.

“No, the matter has not yet been resolved. It’s something I will take up with the provincial Cogta [Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs] to establish what the situation is regarding the funds promised by the National Treasury,” he said.

KZN Cogta, which is responsible for disaster management in the province, plays a key role in submitting disaster relief documentation to the National Treasury.

Rodgers said he was unsure whether the correct processes to access the R1b had been followed.

The information required by the National Treasury should be submitted timeously because the Treasury doesn’t just hand out money.

“There are certain steps that need to be followed. I’m not sure if that was done,” he said.

The infrastructure damage caused by the 2022 floods was estimated at over R17b. At the time, KZN departments were forced to divert funds from other programmes to finance disaster relief efforts.

With floods and other disasters becoming more frequent due to global warming, the provincial government is increasingly required to allocate additional funds for disaster relief.

Rodgers said the provincial government would not have sufficient funds for disaster relief should extensive damage to infrastructure occur due to natural disasters.

“Yes, we do have a reserve fund, and some departments also have funds for disaster relief. But these funds are very limited,” he said.

A week ago, floods displaced over 100 people and left more than 13 dead in the eThekwini area.

The South African Weather Service (Saws) recently warned that floods, particularly during the rainy season, would become more frequent.

“In other words, heavy-rain events — such as the current incidents — can rightfully be expected to recur in the future and with increasing frequency,” Saws said.

Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane is scheduled to visit eThekwini tomorrow to monitor the KZN government’s disaster response measures.

Meanwhile, Cogta MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi yesterday activated disaster management teams across the province following a level five warning for severe thunderstorms from Saws.

The inclement weather is expected to impact uMdoni, eThekwini, uMkhambathini, Ray Nkonyeni, and uMzumbe municipalities.

“The severe weather warning is a result of predicted heavy rainfall, which poses a significant risk of widespread flooding,” a press release from Cogta said.

“Saws has issued this urgent alert due to the intensity of the anticipated rainfall and the potential for significant disruption,” the statement read.

Buthelezi implored communities living in low-lying areas and near riverbanks in the affected areas to immediately seek shelter on higher ground.

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