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The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality will be seeking more than R950m in additional funds from national and provincial government for post disaster repairs and recovery measures following last month’s torrential rains.
In a report to Thursday's council meeting, acting municipal manager, Themba Hani, recommends that Council declare the Metro a local flood disaster area so that it can apply for relief funds.
The report says that the estimated funds required by the Infrastructure and Engineering Directorate is R937.6m with a further R9.4 million required by Public Health.
In addition, R3.6 million is needed by Economic Development and Recreational Services for damage done to the Red Location art gallery, museums and libraries as well as damage to Humewood Beach and Sardinia Bay.
Corporate Services requires just over R2m to repair damage done to municipal buildings, while Electricity and Energy wants R965 000 for damage caused to overhead power lines and underground cables.
The report says that the impact on budgets with regard to the overtime worked during the last heavy rains is “devastating, with budgets depleted.
Employee-related costs have not been established but are expected to have a severe impact.
The report states that during the heavy storm, relief worth just under R300 000 was provided with the result that the Dis-aster Management Relief Fund has been depleted as well as relief stock.
Hani points out that because of the financial situation in the Metro it is less resilient and does not have sufficient reserves.
He states further that the Metro did not make provision for the overtime required as a result of the flooding.
Hani points out that a declaration of a disaster can only be used for immediate relief or to deal with repairs, adding that in terms of legislation the municipality should budget for disasters.
He says the damage to infrastructure will have severe and adverse consequences for the Nelson Mandela Bay area as a whole.
(Source: Metro Minute to subscribe mail metminutes@iafrica.com)
