Disaster relief coffers are empty, says KZN Finance Dept
Newly appointed MEC Francois Rodgers said all provincial departments would have to contribute if the current disasters in the province were to be adequately tackled.
A child plays among debris in Kenville informal settlement in KwaZulu-Natal after fires ravaged the region, 16 July 2024. More than 100 homes were destroyed, affected at least 300 people. Picture: GCIS (KZN)
DURBAN - The KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) finance department says the province’s disaster relief does not have money to handle the current disasters.
This as the province is reeling from wildfires that came hot on the heels of destruction caused by tornadoes, floods and heavy rains between June and July.
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On Tuesday, the department was questioned about its capacity to tackle the disaster.
Its newly appointed MEC, Francois Rodgers, said there were no funds.
“If you want to how much we have in our disaster relief funds, the amount is nothing.”
He added that all provincial departments would have to contribute.
“If this province is going to tackle the current situation, it means every single department is going to have to reprioritise its budgets. We already know that on our spending pressures, in this financial year there is enormous pressure, and we will probably end up with over expenditure.”