The funding, administered through the Municipal Disaster Relief Grant (MDRG), will be used to repair and restore critical municipal infrastructure damaged by severe weather conditions and flooding.

The Provincial Disaster Management Centre confirmed the three district municipalities, John Taolo Gaetsewe, ZF Mgcawu, and Frances Baard, were affected by the flooding. Three people reportedly lost their lives as a result of the floods.

“This crucial financial injection is dedicated to repairing and restoring critical municipal infrastructure that was devastated in parts of the province during April and May,” said cooperative governance, human settlements and traditional affairs (CoGHSTA) MEC Lebogang Motlhaping.

The grant will be distributed among five affected local municipalities including Gasegonyana, Gamagara, Phokwane, Tsantsabane and Joe Morolong.

The municipalities will use the funding for targeted restoration projects, immediate infrastructure rehabilitation and the restoration of basic services to communities affected by the floods.

The allocated funds will primarily support urgent repairs to roads and stormwater infrastructure, the recovery of water and sanitation networks, as well as repairs to community and municipal facilities.

Motlhaping said the funding would provide much-needed relief to affected communities and municipalities.

Essential services

"We express our sincere gratitude to the National Disaster Management Centre for responding to the call of our province. The heavy torrential rains and flooding severely strained our municipal infrastructure, disrupted essential services, and affected the everyday lives of thousands of our residents.” 

“It provides vital support to our local municipalities. It allows us to move swiftly in repairing damaged infrastructure, ensuring that basic services are fully restored, accessibility is re-established, and community safety is guaranteed.”

Motlhaping stressed CoGHSTA would maintain strict oversight over the use of the funds to ensure transparency, accountability and the speedy completion of repair work.

“We are expecting the municipal leadership and technical teams in the beneficiary municipalities to ensure these funds are deployed strictly for their intended purposes without delay. Quality craftsmanship, strict adherence to municipal financial regulations, and swift execution are non-negotiable.”

He said the department would continue working closely with the affected municipalities by providing technical support and monitoring implementation to ensure that all disaster recovery projects are completed on schedule.

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