KZN Premier Sihle Zikalala says R30-million has been allocated to restore the water supply following deadly floods in the province.
Zikalala gave an update on relief measures and progress in the province.Relief measures
The floods in the KwaZulu-Natal province severely damaged the water treatment plant in oThongathi and major repairs are expected to take a few months to complete. As an interim solution, the municipality has intensified the provision of additional water tankers and more static tanks will be added. Boreholes and package plants were also provided by nongovernmental organisations. Despite this, water supplies in many areas of the province having been affected by the April floods, Zikalala on May 19 said water supply would be available in most of the flood-affected areas in KwaZulu-Natal. He added that the eThekwini municipality was reconfiguring the existing water system and had built an emergency pipeline from the Nyaninga reservoir to the Tongaat South reservoir located at Chelmsford Buffelsdale, with necessary tie-ins.Roads
Zikalala launched a R500m project to rebuild roads after the recent devastating floods in the province, last week. The office of the premier said the two-part project will focus on upgrading a section of the P725, with more than R409m allocated for the work. Another R86.5m is being allocated to rehabilitate the stretch of road from Ngonyameni and uMlazi section which connects Umbumbulu, Folweni, eNgonyameni and uMlazi. It also links to the R603 which connects to other economic areas. “The construction and rehabilitation of a section of this road is a living testimony that as the provincial government we are serious about fulfilling the commitment of recovery and reconstruction. This investment will ensure that the people of eThekwini are able to connect and link with important facilities. This will also create jobs and much-needed economic growth for the area. “Importantly, it will open economic activities which will benefit the emerging small entrepreneurs affected by the recent floods,” said Zikalala.
