The floods that wreaked havoc in parts of Nelson Mandela Bay have been classified as a national disaster.
Municipality spokesperson Mamela Ndamase said in a statement on Wednesday that the metro has highlighted that more than R1 billion worth of damage was quantified.
Ndamase said the acting City Manager Luvuyo Magalela, during a meeting led by the National Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs revealed the report which highlighted the estimated cost of the damage amounted to R1 137 160 152.00.
"This amount includes the short-term and long-term solutions. The recovery efforts are continuing and the quantification of the damages is being determined. We have experienced a lot of damage across the Metro, especially in the human settlements, electricity and energy, roads, and infrastructure directorates. The following wards have reported damages 54, 53, 55, 48, 51, 11, 45, 42, 47, 44, 38, 57, 49, 50," says Ndamase.
According to the report damage to water pipelines, wastewater treatment, damaged boundary walls, and water damage to mechanical and electrical equipment. And, damage to electrical substations and transformers.
Sports facilities also suffered damage due to the heavy rains.
"The humanitarian relief to shelters is underway and our Joint Operating Centre is still active. There is assistance from NGOs and the private sector. Meals are being provided by organisations such as the Gift of Givers, Al-Imdaad, and others.
"We would like to apologise to our residents once again, we know some are still without electricity but we can assure them that electricity restoration is in progress.
"Our councillors are leading from the front and updating affected communities. We are expecting a transformer from Johannesburg on Friday morning to restore power in Motherwell," she added.
