Rustenburg - Flood damage in North West amounted to at least R100 million, premier Thandi Modise said on Thursday.
“Though the final assessment has not been concluded, repairs to the damaged infrastructure and enhancement of the design and structural quality of the damaged infrastructure such as houses, bridges, roads and culverts has already commenced,” Modise said in a statement.
Eleven people died due to the rainy weather conditions in the province since February.
“Six of the fatalities were reported in Madibeng and Moses Kotane Local Municipalities in the Bojanala Platinum District while five were reported in Kagisano-Molopo Local Municipality in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District,” said Modise.
The Kagisano-Molopo municipality had been the worst affected, as 232 houses were affected and 280 kilometres of road and five culverts were damaged.
“The determination as to whether it will be necessary for the province to be declared a disaster area would depend on the final consolidated assessment report to be finalised in the coming week,” she said.
The Madibeng Local Municipality had already submitted a request to declare it a disaster area.
Modise said that though relief efforts such as relief of social distress grants, tents, blankets, food parcels and mattresses were rolled out, there was a need for public awareness campaigns on rainwater harvesting initiatives to be intensified in schools and vulnerable communities.
“The lack of spatial planning, municipal by-laws that result in un-coordinated and unplanned human settlements on low lying areas and river banks and poor drainage system in urban areas had increased the vulnerability and magnitude of flooding,” she said.
Sapa