By: Natasha Archary
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, is in KwaZulu-Natal assessing the damages from this weekend’s floods.
An inspection led by KZN Premier Sihle Zikalala, shows the extent of the destruction on the provinces roads, infrastructure and buildings.
There have been no casualties reported in the second round of floods, but more than 200 people have had to be evacuated.
The province still hasn’t recovered from the April disaster which claimed the lives of 448 people, and left massive devastation in its wake.
Now, Dlamini-Zuma has promised those displaced by the floods that government is looking for suitable land in order for people to rebuild.
Waterlogged roads caved in and residential areas that were built on soft sand were washed away in landslides, in what is being dubbed the worst disaster in South Africa.
Speaking at Parliament’s Joint Ad-Hoc Committee on Flood Disaster Relief and Recovery, the minister said government aims to find land where flooding and landslides are unlikely to occur.
“We are working with public works, looking for land suitable for residential areas so those pieces of land used to build so people don’t go back to those planes.”
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
#KZNFloods inspection ans assessment led by KwaZulu-Natal Premier @sziks accompanied by @KZNTransport MEC @kzncogta MEC and @eThekwiniM Mayor pic.twitter.com/OjzQ0KZzjA
— KZN Provincial Gov (@kzngov) May 23, 2022
The estimated costs of the damages in April’s floods were estimated at R25 billion, with water infrastructure, roads and railways completely destroyed.
An official amount from the recent floods have not been accounted for.
One of the worst hit areas, Umdloti, north of Durban have began cleanup operations. Work that was carried out after last month’s floods have been washed away.
Construction was underway to rebuild the roads leading into the tourist destination, but after heavy rains this weekend, more roads and apartments have since collapsed.
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