Central SA
Government can now allocate funds for provinces hit by extreme weather─── ZENANDE MPAME 12:27 Sat, 08 Mar 2025
The government can now allocate funds following the declaration of a national state of disaster in several provinces, including the Free State, North West, and Gauteng, due to extreme weather conditions.
The National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC), under the Department of Cooperative Governance, officially classified the impact of severe weather experienced from Sunday, 16 February, till Friday, 28 February as a National Disaster, in terms of Section 23 of the Disaster Management Act 57 of 2002.
The notice was published in the Government Gazette on Friday (7/3) by the Department of Cooperative Governance. The government continues to call on communities in affected areas to remain vigilant and adhere to early warning advisories issued by the South African Weather Service.
“This decision follows extensive deliberations with various organs of state and heads of provincial Disaster Management Centres, as well as assessments of the magnitude and severity of the disaster,” said Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs head of communications Legadima Leso.
‘The severe weather resulted in loss of life’
“The severe weather, characterised by disruptive rains, thunderstorms, floods, and strong winds, affected multiple provinces, including Free State, North-West, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, and Gauteng.”
The severe weather resulted in loss of life, significant damage to property and infrastructure, and disruptions to basic services, he said.
OFM News previously reported a total of 105 households in Moretele, 100km northeast of Rustenburg, have received relief after floods damaged their homes, cars, and infrastructure.
Following thorough assessments conducted by the Moretele Municipality and verified by Human Settlements nationally, 97 families were identified as needing immediate aid and were handed materials to help rebuild their homes.
Meanwhile, eNCA reports the KZN treasury has launched an investigation into how R1 billion allocated to the province to address the damage from the 2022 floods and how it was spent.
More than 20 people died in the last month, and over 200 others were left homeless during the floods in the province. At least 40 families, or nearly 230 people, were moved to a hotel after their homes were badly damaged or destroyed, reports GroundUp.
“The NDMC will continue working closely with provincial and municipal disaster management centres to ensure effective coordination of response and recovery measures,” said Leso.
