ETHEKWINI Municipality estimates the cost to repair infrastructure damaged in the recent storm is well over R576 million. A report outlining the ongoing assessments following the storm that hit the city on 10 October was presented to the Executive Committee of council this week for approval.
According to the report, engineering related repairs will cost R308 million, the Human Settlements Department requires R250 million, Disaster Management and Emergency Control requires R4.1 million, Parks and Recreations requires R7.7 million, Cleansing and Solid Waste R1.3 million, Electricity R2.6 million and Water and Sanitation, R2.3 million.
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The report also requested that the Executive Committee declare a local state of disaster within the Municipality.
Infrastructure in the Parks, Leisure and Cemeteries Department damaged in the storm includes 20 libraries, 23 pools, 21 halls, three parks, one heritage site, three museums and four sports facilities. Damage was caused by falling trees, flooding and roofs being blown away.
Regarding roads and storm water, 1 081 faults were received which included landslides, damaged roads, potholes, missing manhole covers as well as roads washing away and closures.
The Architecture Unit together with Coastal and Storm Catchment consolidated a list of all affected council infrastructure to a total of R308 106 350.
Regarding Human Settlements damage, the report claimed that the initial assessment of houses in the following areas were 954 informal dwellings, 1 770 breaking new ground units, 557 retaining walls, 418 temporary facilities and 489 damaged roofs. The estimated cost to repair the damaged infrastructure is over R250 million.
The report made it clear that the assessment process has not been concluded and departments will report to the City Manager, Sipho Nzuza and the Executive Committee once the assessment process is finalised.
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The approval of the report by Exco grants authority to various units to start planning and rehabilitating infrastructure on a short and long term basis.
It also authorizes the Disaster Management and Emergency Control Unit to conduct an evaluation of all flood prone areas within the City as an emergency and update the Disaster Management Plan accordingly.
The Engineering Unit has also been instructed to assess the road infrastructure and drainage systems capacity taking into consideration the roads affected by the flash floods.
Authority was granted to the Human Settlements Unit to rehabilitate and construct damaged low cost housing, community residential units and informal settlements as an emergency, subject to funding being made available by the KZN Provincial Department of Human Settlements.
Acting Deputy City Manager of Community and Emergency Services Martin Xaba said it was crucial for various departments to start the rehabilitation of damaged infrastructure. “The approval of the report also allows the Finance Department to find savings to ensure rehabilitation of infrastructure goes ahead,” he said.
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