MPs hear WC is only province to receive disaster funding allocation
Chairperson Zweli Mkhize says he’s concerned provinces prone to natural weather disasters at this time of year, such as floods and fire won't have the resources to mitigate the effects.
FILE: Parliament's cooperative governance and traditional affairs committee chairperson Zweli Mkhize. Picture: GCIS
CAPE TOWN - Parliament's Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) committee wants the National Treasury to explain why the Western Cape is the only province to receive a disaster funding allocation in the mini-budget, tabled by Finance Minister - Enoch Godongwana - last month.
Committee chairperson Zweli Mkhize says he’s concerned provinces prone to natural weather disasters at this time of year, such as floods and fire won't have the resources to mitigate the effects.
Kwazulu-Natal and the Western Cape experienced severe floods this year that damaged infrastructure and left thousands of people displaced.
Following a meeting with the National Disaster Management Centre on Friday, Parliament’s portfolio committee says it's concerned provincial disaster responses take too long and the lack of funding is a major factor.
Mkhize said six provinces - KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape, Limpopo, Free State and Western Cape collectively need about R11 billion to respond to the aftereffects of recent natural disasters.
However, only the Western Cape has received just short of R1 billion following widespread infrastructure damage from winter flooding.
"This is illogical for us. We do not understand. We believe something has to be done. It has to be reviewed. It has to be explained. We think it’s completely unreasonable," Mkhize said.
READ: COGTA department says its prepared for any disaster
Mkhize said the National Treasury will be invited to appear before the committee next week to explain why other provinces are not getting financial support.
"You can argue about the relative distribution across provinces, but what you can’t explain is why everyone else is but out and only one province is favoured," he said.
Mkhize said while it's understood the fiscus is stretched, the available resources must be split among all the provinces in need.