Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning
Question by Mr D W Bryant
In relation to the recent floods caused by heavy winter rains that have led to many serious challenges across the province:
- (a) How much money has been spent so far to address the impact of flooding across the province and (b) what environmental and topographic factors have contributed to the increased flooding and displacement of people living in certain informal settlements;
- whether the current weather monitoring systems that the South African Weather Service (SAWS) has in place has proved to be sufficient; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
- what additional steps is the Western Cape Government taking to increase its own monitoring capacity?
(1)(a) The City of Cape Town Metro, West Coast, and Cape Winelands District Municipalities incurred extensive damages, with Overberg and Garden Route District Municipalities experiencing moderate damages and Central Karoo District Municipalities incurring minor damages. Damage assessments are underway across the province to determine the financial needs, with designated teams from affected local municipalities and sector departments documenting incurred damages.
Preliminary damage assessments received thus far include the following:
- Department of Agriculture: Total losses amounts to R2,559 billion. At this stage, the Department’s contribution and insurance status have been reported to be nonquantifiable, while the variance is reported as not applicable.
Department of Infrastructure: total amount required funds amounting to
R224 million has been indicated.
- Department of Health and Wellness: total of losses amounting to
R9, 792 million, own contribution of R3, 446 million, Variance of
R6, 346 million.
- Cape Nature: total of losses amounting to R383, 520 million, own contribution of R0, Variance of R383, 520 million.
- Drakenstein Municipality: total of losses amounting to R37, 069 million, with an own contribution of R0, and a Variance of R37, 069 million
Once internal resources have been deployed and exhausted, the affected organs of state (through the Department of Local Government: Western Cape Provincial Disaster Management Centre) will submit a funding request to the National Treasury via the National Disaster Management Centre to augment the "shortfall" from the conditional disaster grants.
(b) This question must be directed to the Department of Infrastructure.
- The South African Weather Services has developed an Impact-Based Severe Weather Warning System. Prior to issuing the warnings the Western Cape: Provincial Disaster Management Centre and the relevant affected districts are consulted to determine the appropriate level taking into account the situation on the ground. This ensures that the warnings are issued at the correct level.
This is sufficient as the timeous issuing of these warnings ensures that Disaster Management Centres and services can take action to prepare for these events.
When such Impact Severe weather warnings (from level 6) are received, the Western Cape Disaster Management Centre activates its standard operating procedures which includes an early warning weather briefing with all stakeholders to ensure preparedness across the province. In addition, daily joint operation committee (JOC) meetings are activated for the duration of the severe weather event for the coordination of rapid response activities. These briefings and JOCs are attended by all stakeholders which include provincial and national departments, Heads of Disaster Management Centres, NGOs such as humanitarian relief as well as search and rescue organisations.
- The Department of Local Government is in the process of developing a flood hazard model. This interactive tool will enhance the decision-making process through the utilisation of an integrated and interactive spatial hazard model. The model, which takes into account parameters such as elevation, level of rivers, etc., will enable Disaster Management Centre to determine priority areas based on the amount of rainfall expected and activate services to reduce the impact of the event. The model will also be used to inform disaster risk reduction efforts.
