Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa has confirmed that emergency funds have been activated to support municipalities severely affected by recent floods across the country.
Addressing Parliament during his department’s budget vote on Wednesday, Hlabisa said technical teams have been deployed to assess the extent of the damage and fast-track recovery efforts.
“In the face of such devastation, we are urgently working to support the affected provinces and municipalities — not just in word, but with the resources they need to recover and rebuild,” Hlabisa stated.
KwaZulu-Natal has borne the brunt of the adverse weather, with at least two people losing their lives and over 100 schools sustaining significant damage. In the Eastern Cape, a national disaster was declared after torrential rains claimed the lives of at least 102 people.
Hlabisa said the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent (MISA) has dispatched teams to evaluate damage to roads, bridges, water and sanitation systems, and other critical infrastructure.
“These interventions are vital to restoring essential services and helping communities return to normality,” he added.