R1bn allocated to KZN by Human Settlements Dept
The Minister of Human Settlements, Mmamaloko Kubayi, has announced a R1bn injection for Kwazulu Natal to help the province's recovery from the devastating floods that have claimed close to 400 lives.
More rain is expected over the flood-ravaged province this weekend, and this is expected to compound the massive clean-up operations that are underway.
Minister Kubayi led a delegation to KZN on Friday for a first-hand assessment of the devastation.
She said afterward that the Department of Human Settlements had "reprioritised funding to give the KZN Province access to R1bn that will, among others, assist in commencing repairs of partially damaged houses and to provide about 4000 temporary shelters to families whose houses have been completely destroyed."
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Kubayi said preliminary assessment reports from the KZN Department of Human Settlements indicate that more than 13 500 households have been affected, just over 3927 houses destroyed, and 8097 partially destroyed.
The Minister said the Province can tap into funding from the 2021/22 financial year in the amount of R539 million from the Urban Settlements Development Grant recently allocated for the upgrading of informal settlements.
Kubayi said discussions were underway to request that this money be reprioritised to address the current disaster.