KZN's disaster response: a call for accountability and action

DESPITE numerous recommendations to all spheres of government, there is still no tangible change in the way that natural disasters in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) are handled.

This while our province continues to experience heavy downpours, severely affecting many vulnerable communities.

The devastating effects of poorly maintained infrastructure during floods, on both communities and the broader economy, have been all too clear during the recent rains. Residents in many flood-prone areas have been faced with poor drainage systems and weak infrastructure that cannot withstand the elements.

This can be directly attributed to a number of factors, the main one being corruption and mismanagement of funds. Regrettably - funding allocated for disaster preparedness and infrastructure improvement in KZN has often been diverted, limiting resources needed to protect residents.

KZN’s Department of Human Settlements, along with the vast majority of municipal housing departments are also yet to devise a strategy to deal with the many informal settlements built in flood-prone areas and which often lack the necessary infrastructure, including proper drainage or flood defences.

In a statement earlier this week, the DA highlighted how chaotic and unprepared this department is. Despite being aware of the risks in certain regions, new housing developments have been allowed to go up without sufficient measures taken to mitigate flood damage. Then there is the fact that the department cannot provide a comprehensive list of residents still affected by the 2022 floods – with no plans to assist them.

KZN’s people must be provided with adequate protection in flood-prone areas. As part of KZN’s Government of Provincial Unity (GPU) we will continue to pressure all spheres of government to start working together - rather than in silos – in order to build resilient, properly planned modern societies able to withstand climate change.

RIONA GOKOOL, MPL

DA KZN Spokesperson on Human Settlements

** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media. 

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