KwaDukuza to undertake over 400 projects with R1.2bn flood repair funding within the next 12 months

KwaDukuza’s R1.2-billion flood repair funding is conditional on being spent over the next 12 months.

The funds, disbursed by the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC), will primarily be used to reconstruct and rehabilitate flood damaged infrastructure, including roads, bridges and stormwater networks.

More than 400 projects will be undertaken, adding to the 30 projects already underway which used an initial grant of R109-million and council funding to get started.

The Courier reported on the R1.2-billion allocation two weeks ago, but further detail emerged when KwaDukuza municipality (KDM) mayor, Lindile Nhaca, addressed council last week.

Although there are no specific details on which projects will be done, the funds will be split into R501-million for 2022/2023 (the current financial year ending on June 30) and R693-million for 2023/2024.

The allocations are exclusive of VAT and represent the actual money available to begin work.

The R501-million for the 2022/2023 year has been added to council’s initial capital expenditure allocation for a total of R1.023-billion.

“I am mindful that we practically have two months in this financial year to spend the budget which forms part of this adjustment.

“This might not be realistic, and we could expect to roll over most of these projects into the 2023/2024 financial year. This is inevitable due to the timing of this adjustment and the allocated period of 12 months that is apportioned for the disbursement of the grant,” said Nhaca.

Considering KDM needed an extension to complete work using the initial R109-million grant, 12 months represents a significant administrative challenge.

But the funding is a massive boost for the municipality, which estimated R1.4-billion in flood damages when compiling their report to the NDMC last year.

Nhaca promised robust oversight of the repair programmes, including regular audits, tender and work steering committees and regular feedback to the executive committee and council.

With the grant allocation, there is a chance of reprioritising 2023/2024 capital funds for other internal projects.

“I would appreciate a strong focus on addressing issues of public transport facilities (taxi ranks) which form part of the backbone of our economy. I had an opportunity to meet with taxi associations, who pointed out that upgrades to the KwaDukuza and Ballito taxi ranks are needed. I wish these assets may receive priority attention from the reprioritisation budget for 2023/2024,” she said.

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