Parliament, Saturday, 28 May 2022 – The Ad Hoc Joint Committee on Flood Disaster Relief and Recovery, today visited KwaDukuza Local Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Province, where it received a briefing from the Premier of the KZN Provincial Government, Mr Sihle Zikalala and from the Mayor of KwaDukuza Local Municipality, Mr Lindile Nhaca.
Mr Zikalala told the committee that the first challenge they are experiencing as the provincial government is coordination between them and the civil society organisations. He said many civil society organisations are given money by the government to assist communities affected by the disaster yet they are not visible on the ground and their reports do not reflect what they claim to be doing.
He told the committee he has requested the Human Rights Commission to make an assessment of what these civil society organisations have promised to do against what they have done.
The committee has expressed its appreciation on Mr Zikalala’s openness and frankness on the challenges the province is facing. The committee is also going to engage the national government on the urgency of its provision of the funds to the province as it is clear that the province needs additional financial assistance.
The committee visited Yellowood Road in Shakaville, KwaDukuza where a road and a bridge were swept away by the floods. The committee was appalled by the manner in which Tongaat Water Treatment Plant was destroyed by the floods and the horrifying damage to the northern part of the province where households rely on water tankers for water supply.
The committee is concerned by the implications of the impact of the damage to the infrastructure on the livelihoods of the people as the people have to walk long distances to get water. The water treatment plant was also a source of economic activity in the area. The committee heard that there are a number of households that get less water supply from these tankers and it called on the City of Ethekwini as well as the Department of Water and Sanitation to intervene by ensuring that water is delivered to the people.
The committee was also briefed by Transnet on what the Department of Public Enterprises has done to ensure that the economic activity at the Port of Durban continues after it was halted by the floods. It also visited Brettonwood High School where sport fields were completely destroyed by the floods resulting in the termination of extramural activities.
Infrastructure such as changing rooms and swimming pool are no longer usable and there are several classes that are no longer usable. The committee welcomed the temporary structures that have been erected by the Department of Basic Education at the school to ensure that learning continues.
The committee also visited UMdloti where there were mudslides as a result of the floods that destroyed infrastructure, property and vehicles. 95% of the residents were evacuated due to the inhabitability of the residential properties. The committee will make appropriate recommendations to the government regarding the plight of the UMdloti residents as that residential area is one of the tourist attractions in the province.
The committee is disappointed by the unavailability of the political principals of the EThekwini Metropolitan Municipality in today’s oversight visit. It expected the political leadership of the metro to be available since the metro is the most severely affected area in the province. According to the committee relief and recovery programme following this natural disaster should be prioritized by all spheres of government.
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
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