KZN Floods: CoGTA oversights an ANC masterclass in political manipulation and exploitation

24 April 2022

The Democratic Alliance (DA) notes with extreme disappointment the blatant political manipulation exercised by KZN’s CoGTA Department during on-the-ground oversight inspections of flood damaged communities.

The inspections by KZN MPLs, which took place late last week, saw a very clear focus on ANC wards while other far worse hit communities were ignored.

One such is example is the inspection of Ward 89 in Isipingo – an ANC ward – while Ward 90, a severely affected DA ward, was side-lined. Then there are the reports that certain officials are attempting to pass off earlier maintenance issues as part of the recent storm damage.

None of this comes as a surprise to the DA. This blatant exercise in grandstanding and exploitation is also what KZN’s people have come to expect from the ANC.

To add insult to injury, the ANC had the audacity to bring out its so-called big guns last week, in the form of national Ministers, to visit Wards it only retained by a slight majority during the 2021 Local Government Elections. This political opportunism – at a time when so many are suffering - is not lost on the DA.

What happens within these communities when ANC politicians have all gone home to their warm and dry homes is what will count in the days ahead. This will be the true test.

Yet another cause for concern is the lack of intervention when it comes to hard- hit rural areas such as uThukela, where people are waiting in vain for government assistance. Then there are the reports of violent protests in other outlying parts of the province as a result of no service delivery.

The fact is that KZN is never ready for any kind of disaster. This despite our province being the most disaster prone in the entire country. It is also clear that the recent flood damage is not going to be fixed anytime soon and that it is being compounded by the disorganised chaos on the ground.

The DA calls on KZN COGTA MEC, Sipho Hlomuka and his Department to take the following steps with immediate effect;

Urgently establish a centralised disaster centre, with all departments present, as there is no clear, uniform direction coming from  government. This lack of inter-departmental communication and connection is making an already terrible situation much worse

Address the massive inadequacies that exist within Disaster Management so that KZN does not find itself in this position again

Issue a clear instruction to KZN municipalities advising them on the proper channels to register families or houses affected by the recent floods

Address the lack of co-ordination between CoGTA, KZN’s Department of Social Development, SASSA and NGOs so that our most vulnerable receive the urgent help they need

Issue a clear directive that criminalizes the use of any flood relief by councillors of government officials for political gain

Address issues relating to damaged road networks by working with KZN’s Transport Department to come up with a priority plan

Address reports of apparent protest action and ensure the safety of KZN’s residents by deploying the necessary law enforcement and;

Work closely with KZN’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) to ensure farmers are prioritized so that the province’s food security is not further threatened

KZN’s people have already made their feelings very clear when it comes to the poor and selective manner in which government’s relief efforts are being rolled out. The ANC continues to ignore the needs of all KZN’s people at its own peril.

Issued by Martin Meyer, DA KZN Spokesperson on CoGTA, 24 April 2022