Latest news with #R139
The Citizen
17-07-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Zululand gets R22 million for flood damage repairs
Minister of Co-operative Governance & Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Velenkosini Hlabisa has announced a R139 million allocation to KwaZulu-Natal municipalities for disaster relief efforts. R13 million was allocated to Zululand District Municipality; Ulundi Local Municipality received R6.2 million; AbaQulusi Local Municipality received R12 million; and Edumbe Local Municipality received R10 million. Zululand District Municipality Mayor Michael Khumalo has welcomed the allocation. 'This additional funding will go a long way towards accelerating our efforts to mitigate disaster risks and put into place proactive measures. We pledge to utilise this grant promptly and follow procedures and protocols as established by the department to ensure accountability and transparency,' said Khumalo. The mayor added that the Zululand District has experienced unprecedented challenges due to heavy rains and flooding, which resulted in significant damage to water infrastructure and other public facilities. The combined funding of R22 million will be used for repairs to damaged water schemes, sanitation systems and other essential municipal services. He also urged residents to continue working together with the municipality to ensure that the recovery efforts are inclusive and transparent. This grant will be transferred in phases. The minister's office reported that the department is currently awaiting transfer dates from the National Treasury. CoGTA MEC for KZN, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, has also welcomed the announcement, since municipalities in the province were impacted by incidents that caused billions of rands worth of destruction. He said this allocation is specifically earmarked for disaster response and recovery. The funds will provide much-needed relief to communities, facilitating the installation of new disaster mitigation measures and the improvement of roads, as well as water and sanitation infrastructure. This allocation also underscores the national government's commitment to supporting the province's ongoing recovery and rebuilding efforts. ALSO READ: Zululand District Municipality elects new mayor The news provided to you in this link comes to you from the editorial staff of the Vryheid Herald, a sold newspaper distributed in the Vryheid area. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
08-07-2025
- Climate
- IOL News
R1. 25 billion in disaster relief for Eastern Cape, KZN, and Free State municipalities
More than 100 people died and there was extensive damage to infrastructure and homes in flooding in the Eastern Cape. Image: Pedro Mapelo / I'solezwe lesiXhosa Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa has warned municipalities to use disaster funds promptly and for their intended purposes and not to pay salaries or fund trips. He made these remarks during a briefing yesterday in Sandton where he provided information on the release of the funds following floods and heavy snowfall that occurred in KwaZulu-Natal, the Free State, and the severely affected Eastern Cape. A total of R1.255 billion has been allocated for the 2025/26 financial year with the funds to be released in phases. The bulk of the money, about R500 million will go to the Eastern Cape which suffered the most damage to infrastructure and homes. In KZN, R139 million in disaster relief grants has been allocated for 17 municipalities including the eThekwini Municipality, which suffered extensive damage in recent storms. In June, a total of 107 lives were lost due to disasters. Of these, 103 were in the Eastern Cape, three in KZN, and one in the Western Cape. In accordance with applicable legislation, business plans, and approved processes, the municipal disaster response grants will be transferred in phases during this month. The Department is currently awaiting transfer dates from the National Treasury, with preliminary dates set for July 11 and 18. The minister noted that the majority of the municipalities received the Response or Recovery Grant and the Municipal Disaster Response Grant in March 2025 and have not started implementing the projects. KZN municipalities that will benefit include: Video Player is loading. 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Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Zululand: R13m (in addition to R9m received in March 2025) Abaqulusi: R12m (in addition to R5.4m received in March 2025) Inkosi Langalibalele: R11m Newcastle: R11m (in addition to recovery and response grants allocated in March 2025) eThekwini metro: R9m (in addition to R8m and R1.4 billion previously allocated) Edumbe: R10m (in addition to R6.8m received in March 2025) He added that the Disaster Management Act highlights the importance of self-funding for disaster risk management, requiring state organisations to utilise their own resources for disaster interventions. In instances where public infrastructure is damaged, the relevant state organ bears the responsibility for financing the repair costs. 'With regards to disaster grants, adherence to Section 12 of the Division of Revenue Act (DORA) is crucial. The funds disbursed must be utilised exclusively for sanctioned purposes and may not be redirected to unrelated expenditures, such as employee travel,' Hlabisa stated. The minister said, 'We appreciate the efforts made to utilise the grants appropriately; however, we have identified several key areas of concern regarding their implementation. These include poor infrastructure planning and execution, inadequate workmanship, diversion or alteration of the scope of work, delays in appointing service providers that lead to municipalities underperforming, and the misallocation of funds towards operational matters instead of the designated projects." He also noted a significant lack of monitoring and contract management by implementing agents, as well as projects being underdesigned, which makes the infrastructure vulnerable to further damage. Zululand mayor, Michael Khumalo, welcomed the municipality's allocation. 'This will bring much-needed relief to the people of Zululand. The grant will go a long way in accelerating efforts to mitigate disaster risks. Zululand has previously experienced challenges due to heavy rain, which resulted in significant damage to water infrastructure. As the municipality, we pledge to utilise this grant promptly and responsibly by following procedures and protocols to ensure accountability and transparency,' he said. ActionSA MP Alan Beesley said it was imperative is that the funds are used promptly and in a cost-effective manner. "For far too long, disaster grants have been plagued by time delays and dubious procurement. Cogta must ensure there is proper accountability for these grants and that there are serious consequences when these grants are not used as intended.' KZN Cogta MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi said the allocation for the province followed applications from KZN municipalities which had been impacted by incidents resulting in damage that would cost billions of rand to fix.
IOL News
07-07-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
R139 million allocated to KZN municipalities for disaster relief efforts
Many communities across KwaZulu-Natal have suffered immensely due to recent disasters. The KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, has expressed his approval of the recent announcement from the Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Velenkosini Hlabisa, regarding a substantial R139 million allocation dedicated to disaster relief efforts across KZN municipalities. This initiative marks a crucial step towards supporting the communities devastated by calamities that have inflicted billions of rands worth of damage throughout the province. This financial boost, aimed at disaster response and recovery, will play a vital role in enhancing infrastructure, allowing municipalities to install new disaster mitigation measures, and improve essential services that include roads and water and sanitation facilities. The allocation not only signifies the national government's unwavering commitment to the restoration and rehabilitation of affected areas but also highlights the collaborative spirit needed to rebuild communities.
The Citizen
24-06-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Charlotte Maxeke repairs on track, says Gauteng Health
Phase one, which includes demolition and reconstruction work in critical areas, is expected to be completed by August 2026. The Gauteng Department of Health on Monday confirmed that the remedial work to repair the fire-damaged Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (CMJAH) is progressing well and remains on schedule. The hospital suffered significant damage in a fire in April 2021. Since then, the department has made 'significant strides' in restoring operations, with the hospital now operating at a bed capacity that exceeds pre-fire levels. Project in two phases The repair project is being conducted in two phases. Phase one focuses on repairing Blocks 4 and 5 North, while phase two will involve hospital-wide fire compliance upgrades, which require R1.7 billion in funding. According to the department, a prefeasibility report and concept report have already been approved, and a business case is being developed. 'The department is actively exploring various funding options and private investments to support this critical phase,' it said. Phase one, which includes demolition and reconstruction work in critical areas, is expected to be completed by August 2026. As of April 2025, R139 million of the allocated R426 million budget for Work Package One has been spent. ALSO READ: Alarm raised over 'R1.7bn fire safety gap' at Charlotte Maxeke hospital Restoration milestones reached Key areas that have already been restored and are operational include the Radiation Oncology Unit and the Accident and Emergency Department. 'A new state-of-the-art dry store facility has been constructed to enhance the storage and accessibility of vital medical supplies,' said the department. To improve safety, new fire doors have been installed throughout much of the hospital. A temporary access ramp has also been constructed, enabling staff to access 300 parking bays at the P3 level, although fire-damaged bays remain closed until they are fully repaired. ALSO READ: Operations continue at Tembisa hospital after second fire in less than a week Patient care remains central The department assured the public that safety and care remain top priorities. Instead of scattering services across multiple facilities, the hospital has adopted a decanting strategy to rotate services internally during the ongoing construction. 'This approach ensures that all services remain within the hospital for better patient care,' the department said. Hospital management and project teams have implemented safety measures and committed to maintaining open communication with staff and stakeholders as work progresses. NOW READ: Gauteng Health's warning for parents
The Citizen
23-06-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Concerns about no fire compliance at Charlotte Maxeke hospital
A fire broke out in parts of the hospital in April 2021, forcing its closure. As repairs to the fire-damaged parts of Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital near completion, the DA raised concerns about fire compliance to prevent a future blaze. Parts of the hospital caught fire in April 2021, resulting in its closure. Cause of fire at Charlotte Maxeke hospital Patients were referred to other hospitals such as Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital and Bertha Gxowa Hospital, which were already overburdened with patients. A police forensic report in 2022 concluded that arson was the cause of the fire at Charlotte Maxeke hospital. Fire hazard DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC Jack Bloom said repairs to the fire-damaged parts of Charlotte Maxeke hospital will be completed in August next year, but there is no budget for the R1.7 billion required for fire compliance to prevent a future fire. Bloom said the 'disturbing situation' was disclosed by Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko in a written reply to his questions in the Gauteng Legislature. ALSO READ: Court orders Gauteng Health to clear radiation oncology backlog at public hospitals Funding He said Ralehoko indicated that the department is exploring several funding options, while also exploring private investment for the Charlotte Maxeke project. 'Meanwhile, R139 million has so far been spent of the R426 million budgeted to repair the hospital by August 2026 in what is called Work Package 1, which should be followed by Work Package 2 to ensure fire compliance.' 'It is unacceptable that it will take more than five years since the fire in April 2021 to fix the hospital, which will still not be compliant with legally required fire prevention measures. This is a poor response that would not be tolerated in the private sector,' Bloom said. Parking bays Bloom added that there is still a shortage of 700 parking bays, a major problem for patients and staff. 'Patients suffer as they are moved between areas as the repairs take place, and they walk long distances because of the severe parking shortage. The MEC says the parking bays will be reopened as soon as construction has advanced to the stage where the reopening will not endanger the lives and property of staff and patients. Bloom added that Ralehoko claimed there were no delays, and that the project in Work Package one 'is on time and within budget'. ALSO READ: Charlotte Maxeke casualty's failure to open a sign of 'deep incompetence'
