
The Garden Route District Municipality has rallied behind calls for Oudtshoorn and surrounds, to be declared a disaster area.
This follows the severe flooding experienced between 8 April and 11 April 2024, and from 2 June to 6 June 2024.
The recent heavy rain and flooding, led to infrastructure damage in the Little Karoo Town.
Local authorities say the cost of damage is close to R500 million.
This includes the destruction of road infrastructure and the agriculture sector.
“The declaration of a local disaster will allow the municipality to access disaster recovery and rehabilitation grant funding and permit the necessary provincial and municipal budgets to be supplemented to address the damages caused by the flooding. It will also allow for emergency procurement procedures to be followed to not only fast track rehabilitation and recovery work but also to allow for building back better to ensure a more resilient Garden Route”, said the municipality’s Herman Peters.
At the same time … Western Cape Head of Disaster Management, Colin Deiner confirmed that they’re in talks with their national counterparts on the matter.
“We are currently meeting with the NDMC on the classification of the disaster. We have requested a disaster declaration last week and are currently finalizing the assessment which will determine the extent of the damage. It has been difficult to determine the exact flood damage due to the high rivers which have not yet subsided.
Other affected regions hoping for disaster funding include the Cape Agulhas and Cederberg Municipalities.
Picture: Oudtshoorn Municipality