Parliament, Monday, 27 November 2023 – The Ad Hoc Joint Committee on Flood Disaster Relief and Recovery has unanimously adopted its report on the work it has done in all the provinces that were affected by the disastrous floods that took place in 2022 and 2023.
The committee which visited all the affected provinces was established in February 2023. The provinces that were affected and which the committee visited were: KwaZulu Natal (KZN) which was hard hit by the flood disaster, Eastern Cape, North West, Free State, Mpumalanga and Limpopo. The comprehensive report incorporates practical recommendations for each province.
Amongst the recommendations put forward by the committee for the Gauteng province is the inclusion of climate change as a key consideration in all flood disaster interventions by organs of state in order to foster a better understanding of the broader context in which the flood crisis unfolds. For the KZN province, the committee recommended that the national government should intervene and convert the disaster funds into indirect grants spent on the municipalities and on behalf of the province.
The committee has also requested for the responsible state organs to place more emphasis on municipal infrastructure maintenance, including clearing of storm water drainage systems and culverts prior to the onset of rainy seasons in the North West province.
Amongst recommendations put forward for the Free State province, the committee has urged the relevant state organs to embark on a continuous community awareness and education programme to ensure that communities are ready and know what to do in response to an impending flood disaster, taking cognisance of the recurrence of flooding incidents.
For the Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces, the committee has requested detailed progress reports on the flood relief and recovery interventions and projects currently underway. Each member of the committee during deliberations on the report, appreciated the deep commitment of the committee on the mandate on which it was established.
The Co-Chairpersons of the committee, Mr Cedric Frolick and Mr Jomo Nyambi commended the committee for the work they described as sterling. The report will be tabled before the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces for consideration and adoption.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CO-CHAIRPERSONS OF THE AD HOC JOINT COMMITTEE ON FLOOD DISASTER RELIEF AND RECOVERY, MR CEDRIC FROLICK AND MR JOMO NYAMBI.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Co-Chairpersons, please contact the committee’s Media Officer:
Name: Yoliswa Landu
Parliamentary Communication Services
Cell: 081 497 4694
E-mail: ylandu@parliament.gov.za
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