Government releases disaster grants worth billions
The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Velenkosini Hlabisa, confirmed the rollout of the Municipal Disaster Response and Recovery Grants.
Damage to municipalities is estimated to be around R6.3 billion. Municipalities in the Eastern Cape is among the worst affected.
Hlabisa says strict accountability measures are in place to ensure the funds are used as intended.
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The Citizen
3 days ago
- The Citizen
Government rejects Tshwane's disaster declaration request for Centurion sinkholes
The metro's request for national government intervention regarding Centurion's worsening sinkhole crisis has been rejected. MMC for Corporate and Shared Services, Kholofelo Morodi, recently told Rekord the metro had formally submitted a request to the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) on January 14 for the Clifton Avenue sinkhole to be declared a disaster. 'The submission came from the city's emergency services department, followed by an urgent intervention letter sent on March 25 to several officials.' She said the officials included the ministers of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), and of Electricity and Energy, the Gauteng MEC for Infrastructure and CoGTA, and the CEO of Rand Water. According to Morodi, the NDMC responded on January 30. She said after evaluating the city's report, it concluded that while the sinkhole is severe, it does not meet the legal definition of a disaster under the Disaster Management Act and thus would not be classified as a national disaster. 'The city was advised to reprioritise its internal budget over a multi-year period to address the rehabilitation costs.' Despite this rejection, Morodi confirmed that the city remains committed to securing the help it needs. 'We're continuing to seek multi-stakeholder assistance to manage this crisis,' she added. She mentioned that the provincial CoGTA is currently working with the national department to compile a report for the MEC, which could lead to the sinkholes being classified as a provincial disaster. Morodi said that the metro has not received any funding or support from national government for sinkhole-related repairs. 'The Department of Roads and Transport is not aware of any support or funding being received,' she said. To reduce risks in the most affected areas, the MMC explained that many sinkholes are caused by leaking wet services in older suburbs like Lyttelton Manor, Valhalla, and Laudium. 'These areas are underlain by ageing infrastructure. As a mitigating measure, the city's regional and service departments can provide input to the response and repair of leaks and the upgrading of wet services to dolomite specifications.' This update comes after residents in Centurion raised alarm over their declining property values, road closures, and ongoing safety risks due to the growing number of sinkholes across the area. In Lyttelton, where some of the worst-affected sites are located, homeowners are watching the value of their properties plummet while dealing with the daily inconvenience of blocked roads and safety risks. Juan Dré, a resident of Burger Avenue, is among many who feel abandoned. 'Our property values have depreciated, so should we not pay less in property rates and taxes until the infrastructure has been repaired? 'I mean, nobody's going to buy a house if there's a sinkhole in front of it.' He noted that the sinkholes in the area also affect traffic. 'On Monument Avenue, there's a sinkhole. On Burger Avenue, there's a sinkhole. Both are blocking access.' Another resident, Stacey Smit, said the ongoing sinkhole crisis has left her feeling trapped in a home she can't sell and fearful for her family's safety. 'We invested our savings into this home, thinking it would be our forever house. But now, with a gaping sinkhole just metres from our driveway, we can't even get prospective buyers to consider it.' She said that they've lost value while the metro keeps saying they're working on it. 'We're tired of waiting.' Valhalla resident Stephen Le Roux shared a different concern. 'It's not just about money; it's the psychological toll. Every time it rains, we panic. What if the ground gives way again?' He said that there's a constant sense of uncertainty, and the city doesn't seem to grasp how this affects people over time. With residents voicing their grievances more loudly than ever, local PR councillor Wesley Jacobs has taken matters further. He spearheaded a petition to have a local state of emergency declared in Region 4, collecting about 3 500 signatures from concerned citizens. 'It was submitted on May 29,' said Jacobs. 'There was no response after submission. Eventually, they combined the petition with my motion and sent it to the mayor's office. Now, we are waiting for a comprehensive report on all petitions to be presented to the council.' Jacobs explained that the matter is now being stalled by administrative shortcomings. 'Apparently, the reason they can't even table my motion or approve it is because we don't have certain disaster management acts. We are not fully compliant,' he said. He noted that the provincial disaster management centre conducted an investigation and found Tshwane only partially compliant with the Disaster Management Act. 'Until we meet all requirements, we won't receive funding or directives from them. We were audited and found lacking,' Jacobs added. ALSO READ: Spike in vehicle theft at north shopping centres Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to [email protected] or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
4 days ago
- The Citizen
Cogta warns municipalities against wasting R1.2 billion disaster relief
Batches of disaster relief funding will be paid to affected municipalities who will be tasked with coordinating relief efforts. A shack surrounded by water after heavy rains fell in Motherwell on 10 June 2025 in Gqeberha, South Africa. Picture: Gallo Images / Die Burger/ Lulama Zenzile A hefty sum has been allocated to several municipalities ravaged by flooding and severe weather in June. Minister of Corporate Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Velenkosini Hlabisa announced a R1.2 billion disaster relief fund on Monday. At least 107 people were killed in the Eastern Cape and bordering provinces, while the areas suffered an estimated R6.3 billion in infrastructure damage. Eastern Cape flood relief The disaster relief funding will be released in three batches, starting with a R151.3 million provincial response grant on 11 July. A R395 million municipal response grant will be released on 18 July, with the final release of R708.9 million scheduled for 28 August. The Eastern Cape suffered the loss of at least 103 lives, with the OR Tambo municipality being the hardest hit with 79 casualties. The province will receive the largest portion of the funds, including R504 million from the final August payment. Hlabisa asked municipalities to begin preparing their disaster relief efforts and warned that future grants would be suspended should these funds be wasted. 'We want all municipalities to know ahead that this money is coming, and they must activate their project processes,' said Hlabisa. 'Recipients of the funds must follow established reporting protocols and use the required templates to ensure accountability in their financial disclosures,' he explained. Waste warning Hlabisa was aware of the tactics used by those who abused state resources, recognising the potential for price inflation and mismanagement. To guard against this, Cogta will deploy teams to the affected areas to verify infrastructure damage and associated rebuilding costs. He also warned against inadequate workmanship, poor infrastructure planning and the diversion of funds from intended projects. 'If there is no accountability, money will not be released. It will be as simple as that,' he cautioned. 'By ensuring transparent, accountable, and strategic fund allocation, government aims to not just repair infrastructure, but to restore hope and dignity to communities devastated by natural disasters.' NOW READ: WATCH: Another tragic twist in Eastern Cape flood tragedy
eNCA
4 days ago
- eNCA
Government releases disaster grants worth billions
JOHANNESBURG - Government is releasing billions in disaster relief grants to support provinces and municipalities hit hardest by the April 2025 floods. The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Velenkosini Hlabisa, confirmed the rollout of the Municipal Disaster Response and Recovery Grants. Damage to municipalities is estimated to be around R6.3 billion. Municipalities in the Eastern Cape is among the worst affected. Hlabisa says strict accountability measures are in place to ensure the funds are used as intended.
