Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Minister Thembi Nkadimeng will on Tuesday release the details of funds disbursed to municipalities and provinces for disaster interventions.
This follows the classification and declaration of particular occurrences as national disasters in terms of Section 23(3) of the Disaster Management Act, 2002 (Act 57 of 2002) by the minister.
The disbursement of funds is in accordance with Section 25(3)(a) of the Division of Revenue Act, 2023 (Act No. 5 of 2023), as amended by the Division of Revenue Amendment Act, 2023 (Act No. 24 of 2023).
Following the release of the details of the funds, Nkadimeng, joined by the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Cogta, Bongiwe Sithole-Moloi, will also hand over the rectification of sewer reticulation and construction of the wastewater treatment works in ward five of the Abaqulusi local municipality in the Zululand district.
The life-changing project was constructed by the municipal infrastructure support agent, which is the implementing agent of the Cogta.
Prior to the implementation of the project, communities in Bhokwe village and hostels grappled with an outdated and dilapidated waterborne sewer system, initially provided by an Anglo-American coal mine more than 50 years ago.
Characterised by frequent bursts, blockages, and overflowing manholes, the ageing infrastructure posed challenges to the residents’ health and wellbeing.
Added to this, other areas within Bhokwe settlement relied on VIP [ventilated improved pit] toilets, further highlighting the disparity in sanitation infrastructure.
The project is estimated to benefit a population of 1 715 individuals across 245 households by ensuring that the community and other stakeholders in Bhokwe have access to and are using an adequate, reliable, and functioning sewer system.
Last week, at the launch of the Newlyn PX Terminal in Durban, President Cyril Ramaphosa reflected on the disasters that have impacted the country in recent years.
“Just four years ago, we were gripped by the worst public health disaster in modern times in the form of the Covid-19, and the country was forced into lockdown to contain its spread,” Ramaphosa said.
“As we were just emerging from the pandemic’s shadow in 2021, parts of our country, notably KwaZulu-Natal, were the scenes of deadly unrest and an unleashing of violence, arson, and mayhem that caused loss of life and cost our economy approximately R50-billion.
“Then, just a year later, in 2022, KwaZulu-Natal was one of the provinces that experienced devastating floods.
“We all recall seeing the images of the damage to the Port of Durban at the time, especially in and around Bayhead Road.
“We know the extensive work and effort it took to restore operations and get the port and its associated infrastructure up and running again.” – SAnews.gov.za
