Durban - Estimated damages to property given to the eThekwini Municipality Treasury Cluster has raised eyebrows after a damaged geyser cost R300 000.
The eThekwini Executive Committee (Exco) received a report from the Treasury Cluster for project authority for unforeseen expenditure arising from the April 2022 flood disaster.
The money was requested to implement urgent projects to respond to the recent flood disaster and for the Treasury to advise the exco of the estimated costs as of April 22, 2022.
The report was to advise exco that the flood disaster response will result in unforeseen expenditure that will require adjustments to the approved budget 2021/22 in terms of section 28 of the local government Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) no. 56 of 2003 and municipal budget and report regulations.
On April 11 and 12, parts of KwaZulu-Natal received between 200 mm and 400 mm of rainfall in a 24-hour period. The entire eThekwini Metro was affected by the rainfall.
The rain caused extensive damage to houses, businesses, roads, bridges and water and electricity, rail and telecommunications infrastructure.
Areas located close to rivers and waterways, particularly informal settlements, were severely affected, and many dwellings were swept away.
To ensure an effective response to these tragic events, the National Disaster Management centre classified the flooding as a national state of disaster.
The 2021/2022 Medium Term Revenue And Expenditure Framework (MTREF) was approved in May 2021.
The MFMA makes provision for the revision of an approved annual budget via an adjustments budget of the MFMA, which provides inter-alia and may, within a prescribed framework, authorise the unforeseen and unavoidable expenditure.
The report stated that the eThekwini Municipality is engaging with National Treasury regarding the re-purposing of current allocations and requests for additional allocations.
“Council notes that a special adjustment budget will be submitted for approval as soon as estimated costs and funding sources are confirmed.”
1. Plug points damaged x10. Head office - R50 000.
2. Cleansing and solid waste: Sewer and stormwater drain backflow to the depot of R500 000.
3. Governance: building and structural damages to City Hall at R300 000 and R700 000.
4. Damaged ceiling boards in IEC and environmental health Westville - R300 000.
5. Economic Development: Repair of damaged trader roof, toilets blocked, drains. Durban Beachfront traders at R500 000.
6. Economic Development: Roof leaks, toilet paper and plumbing. Thula Crescent - R200 000.
7: Parks and gardens: Gutters are damaged, outside lights damaged - KwaMuhle Museum - R200 000.
8. Wet carpet Mariannridge Library R10 000 and Mpola Library R60 000.
9. Thatch Umbrellas damaged Westbrook beach - R175 000.
10. Concrete bins washed away approximately 50. Beachwood to Westbrook R30 000 and another estimate of R50 000.
11. Multi by-law signs washed away and damaged between Umdloti, La Mercy and Westbrook at R175 000.
12. Notice board damaged approximately seven. La Mercy Lagoon, South Beach at R75 000
13. Broken windows, blocked storm drains in Phoenix cemetery at R700 000
14. Health unit
Damaged geyser - Waterfall clinic - R300 000
Roof leaking in the park home - Westville Clinic - R300 000
Damaged window panes in the patients’ waiting area - Klaarwater clinic - R550 000
Roof leak with watermarks visible on the ceiling - Nazareth Clinic - R300 000
Emergency room double is swollen with water - Reservoir Hill - R400 000
15. Damage to five computers and printer affected by water. N4 area office - R300 000
Democratic Alliance Exco member and councillor Nicole Graham said the report in question is to initiate the adjustment budget for the flood damage. She highlighted that the figures listed are all estimates. Graham said some of the estimates are very high, which is a concern, but they would have to follow a procurement process.
“There are two things that we are concerned about. The city still has not outlined exactly who it can and cannot help and in what circumstances it would be doing that. We repeatedly asked for this, and there has been confusion on social media, and it is creating a lot of panic,” Graham said.
Graham said the second issue is that the city has a history of using people in crises to make money. She said this was witnessed during the Covid-19 lockdown when items were red-flagged by the auditor general.
Graham said there has to be very careful financial scrutiny here.
“The reality is that opportunities for corruption in eThekwini have become so rife. We are doing everything we can to ensure the best possible financial oversight that exists and making sure that each and everything is accounted for.”
Some of the effects of the flooding; 435 people were declared dead; 6 278 people were left homeless; 7 245 people living in shelters after their homes were destroyed, and R17 billion was needed to fix overall damages.
Daily News