Government accused of failing to release R1 billion for flood victims

Celani Sikhakhane

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in KwaZulu-Natal has accused the government of failing to keep its promises to release R1 billion in funds to assist flood disaster victims.

On Monday the DA provincial leader Francois Rodgers and councillors of the party revealed that flood victims are still suffering without any help.

He said this was concerning because the national state of disaster declared by President Cyril Ramaphosa was to allow all departments to assist flood victims.

Ramaphosa promised that the government will release R1 billion to make sure that the victims of floods were assisted as soon as possible.

It has been a month since the deadly floods hit KZN. About 400 people were killed and 60 of those bodies are still missing.

Even those who were promised assistance with funeral arrangements have not been assisted.

“More than one month after the flood, thousands of residents and communities across the city  are still without water and have no idea when it will be fully restored. Electricity outages continue to plague households, despite the metro being exempt from load shedding,” said Rodgers.

He said at the time when President Ramaphosa told the city in the aftermath of the floods that R1 billion in relief funding would be made available he already knew that this was not true.

Premier Sihle Zikalala said that as the province, they still don’t have access to the R1 billion funds due to national treasurer terms and conditions.

Zikalala also stated that those who have buried their loved ones without the promised burial assistance will be able to claim for a refund.

Last month those who lost loved ones were promised burial assistance through different companies such as Avbob.

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