Only 16% of required disaster funding released to Western Cape after flooding

25 January 2024

Since the Western Cape was hit by severe flooding last year, with damages estimated to be at about R1 billion, the Provincial Government applied for R700 million in disaster relief funding from the National Government. Despite this, the people of the Province have been slapped in the face with a mere R114 million being released, just more than 16% of the required amount.

This is a direct consequence of years of fiscal mismanagement and corruption by the ANC, and now it is the people of the Western Cape who have to carry the consequences. The Western Cape Government followed an extensive process to determine the extent of damage in the province, and will now have to find alternate sources of funding to make the necessary repairs.

Despite this, the DA-run Western Cape Government will make the most of what funding has been received and has already identified projects in five Municipalities:

24 Projects in Theewaterskloof

16 Projects in Overstrand

11 projects in Stellenbosch

13 projects in Langeberg

6 Projects in the City of Cape Town

MPP Isaac Sileku said: “The Democratic Alliance in the Western Cape firmly believes that the Provincial Government should have been given more disaster funding, given the extent of the disaster. The money would have been well spent, as the Western Cape Government has a track record of firm financial management. Disaster funding should be in place for events of this nature, and it is unacceptable that the ANC squandered this money. Provincial Governments should not be expected to carry these costs on their own, but this is what is happening under the disaster that is the ANC National Government.”

Issued by Isaac Sileku, DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Local Government, 25 January 2024