Transforming KZN's approach to flood disasters for lasting change
Image: Shan Pillay
KwaZulu-Natal Members of the Provincial Legislature (MPL) called for permanent solutions to address flooding and displaced families on Thursday.
The MPLs were debating on a report tabled in March by Premier Thami Ntuli on communities in distress due to the province being engulfed by floods.
There were also concerns about the KZN Department of Transport and Human Resources' purchase of the Montclair Lodge from Transnet for R33 million to house flood victims as one of their interventions.
Blessed Gwala, IFP chief whip, said the refurbishment of the Montclair Lodge should be expedited to meet the December deadline.
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He also called on traditional leaders to exercise greater responsibility when allocating land near riverbeds or flood-prone areas.
According to him, municipalities should enforce existing by-laws to prevent high-risk developments.
Gwala stated he was awaiting an update on the parcels of land earmarked for housing and emphasised that investments must be made in drainage infrastructure, as flood damage diverts crucial funds to disaster response.
Hlengiwe Mavimbela, ANC MPL, warned that every cent allocated must go towards flood recovery and not for electioneering or inflated contracts.
According to Wiseman Mkhize of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party, inadequate drainage system upkeep and water catchment area management were the main causes of the floods.
Marlaine Nair, MPL and DA KZN spokesperson on CoGTA, said the provincial government should shift from reacting to disasters to being prepared for them.
'Floods continue to devastate the same vulnerable communities in KZN. This is no longer simply a climate issue – it is a governance failure, more precisely at the local government level. Poor planning, underfunded infrastructure, and sluggish service delivery have turned natural hazards into human disasters,' Nair said.
She said that one of KZN's biggest risks lies with its almost 1,000 informal settlements, often located on riverbanks, flood plains, or over pipelines.
'These are the result of housing backlogs and people seeking opportunity in the city, only to end up renting from shack-lords on dangerous land. Existing settlements must be made safer through proper upgrades.'
Nair added that the municipalities must urgently assess the state of this infrastructure, clear maintenance backlogs, and allocate dedicated funding for ongoing repairs and upgrades.
Hannah Lidgett, MPL DA, stated that the sustainability and strategic direction of disaster management systems must be interrogated.
'If our approach continues to be reactive rather than anticipatory, we risk repeating this cycle. Why are stormwater systems absent in flood-prone areas? We need planning and forward-thinking governance. We have a disaster strategy rooted in response rather than in resilience,' Lidgett said.
Mongezi Twala, EFF MPL, said taxpayers' money was wasted by renting hotels for flood victims. He said people continue to live in poor and hazardous conditions.
'A lot of money is being released for short-term repairs and interventions, with R185 million spent on temporary accommodations, but there are no plans to build houses.'
Themba Mabaso, an MKP MPL, stated that poor urban planning and inadequate waste management, and environmental degradation have worsened the impact and need to be addressed.
Siboniso Duma, MEC for Human Settlements, said 1,200 families were living in temporary accommodations and that his department is accelerating the construction of houses for the flood victims.
'We are dealing with these issues daily,' he said.
Premier Ntuli stated that MPLs had come forth with good solutions, adding that approximately 108 houses will be built in Cornubia as a permanent solution.
'We faced challenges with certain land parcels where residents were opposed to low-cost housing being built,' he said.
zainul.dawood@inl.co.za
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