Umdoni Municipality councillor appeals to National Treasury for disaster grant
The collapse of a bridge has impacted daily movement, access to emergency services, education facilities, and economic activity for vulnerable rural communities.
Roy Bhoola, Umdoni Municipality councillor and former Member of Parliament, has formally appealed to National Treasury to reconsider the municipality’s non-qualification for the rollover of a R10.6m disaster grant allocated for the Malengeni Bridge reconstruction project.
The funding relates to a natural disaster affecting vulnerable rural communities, where the collapse of the bridge has severely disrupted daily movement, access to emergency services, education facilities, and economic activity.
“After carefully reviewing all compliance processes, I am satisfied that reports were submitted to the district and provincial disaster management structures as required by legislation,” he said.
“The late submission to Treasury appears to have arisen from a genuine administrative misunderstanding, not neglect or wrongdoing.”
He urged National Treasury to consider the human and socio-economic impact that withdrawing the rollover would have on already struggling communities.
“If Treasury is unable to reconsider this matter, the municipality will be forced to fund the project from its already strained internal revenue base. This will place additional pressure on ratepayers, intensify service delivery challenges and deepen hardships for rural residents.”
Bhoola referenced remarks by President Cyril Ramaphosa during the State of the Nation Address, where he expressed concern that withdrawing disaster funds while impacts persist is unfair and disproportionately affects the poor.
“My appeal is grounded in fairness, transparency and responsible governance. While an administrative error has occurred, it is correctable and should not result in communities being punished. I will continue pushing for improved internal controls and accountability within the municipality to avoid such errors in future.”
He called on all oversight bodies and government partners to consider this matter with urgency and compassion in line with cooperative governance principles.
“This is not a political matter. It is about people, dignity and development.”
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