Cape Town — Despite the declaration of the June and September floods as national disasters, the Western Cape government has announced that it will not be receiving any funding from the National Disaster Management Centre.
The Western Cape was ravaged by devastating floods that damaged large parts of the province, with the economy affected as a result. Both floods were declared national disasters and caused damage to infrastructure, buildings and bridges.
According to Provincial Finance MEC Mireille Wenger, the damage to public and agriculture infrastructure amounted to R845 million and R500 million respectively, EWN reported.
Wenger said that they had been informed that there were no funds allocated to facilitate the necessary efforts for recovery and damage repair.
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“We have not and will not receive funding this year from the National Disaster Management Centre, as their funds set aside specifically to respond to disasters are depleted.”
Wenger words opposed what the government said earlier this month.
It was reported that the National Disaster Management Centre would work together “to fund and repair the damage left in the wake of the unprecedented rains experienced over the Heritage Day Long Weekend in September,” Anton Bredell, Western Cape Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning said
Minister Bredell said the disaster classification made it possible for the provincial government to approach the National Disaster Management Centre for relief funds
The damage assessments for the September floods were calculated at R441 million for provincial infrastructure and a further R154million for municipal damages.
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
