The KwaZulu-Natal government reports that the province's economy has recovered, but recurrent storms and floods remain a threat.
The province's economy suffered from three major disasters: the COVID-19 pandemic, the civil unrest in July 2021, and devastating floods in April 2022.
According to the provincial government, the total cost of damage from these disasters amounts to R33 billion.
Siboniso Duma, the MEC for Economic Development, Tourism, and Environmental Affairs, explains that ongoing floods hinder the government's efforts to repair aging infrastructure in affected towns.
"Significant progress has been made in rebuilding businesses and small shops affected by the disasters. However, we continue to address issues in flood-prone areas like Ladysmith and Margate. With global warming, we must adapt and improve our understanding of spatial planning," he says.
"People should avoid building in floodplains because torrential rains, once thought rare in South Africa, are becoming more common. This necessitates better planning, especially as we enter the winter months," Duma adds.
Some economists believe that the province is stable from a growth perspective despite the calamities.
However, they highlight the challenge of securing jobs for everyone due to population growth.
Independent economist Professor Bonke Dumisa explains, "We are losing more jobs than we are creating in South Africa because our population growth rate exceeds our economic growth rate. While some of the lost jobs have been recovered, it doesn't mean those who lost jobs previously will automatically fill the newly created positions."
