The DA in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) notes with concern the severe weather warnings issued by the South African Weather Service (SAWS) for much of the province for today and tomorrow.
While we also note and welcome initial steps by the province’s CoGTA MEC, Sihle Zikalala, to ready the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), the reality is that this facility is 50% understaffed and underfunded and remains woefully unprepared for extreme weather phenomenon.
In November last year the DA established, through a parliamentary question, that 17 out of a total of 35 DMC posts were vacant. Thirteen of these were classified as critical.
The same reply also revealed that the Centre was allocated R30.5million for the 2022/23 financial year – less that the figure allocated the previous financial year. The amount is in stark contrast to that of the DA-led Western Cape, where R85.1million has been allocated to deal with disasters in 2022/23.
Given the situation, the DA now calls on MEC Zikalala to immediately focus on getting this crucial service in order. This must include the filling of critical posts and ensuring increased funding.
In the interim, the DA calls on all municipalities in affected areas to ensure that they communicate weather warnings to residents effectively. This is particularly relevant when it comes to ensuring that those in areas prone to flooding – including informal settlements close to rivers – are monitored and if needs be timeously evacuated.
We also urge the province’s residents to take caution during storms which includes not driving unless necessary, not crossing flooded bridges and roads, following official news reports and warnings and being careful about the spreading of fake news.
The DA remains committed to ensuring accountability from the ANC-run provincial government when it comes to the DMC. This facility must be prioritised.