/ 19 January 2011

‘Billions’ needed to fix flood damage

Billions of rands will be needed to fix infrastructure damaged during recent heavy flooding in Gauteng, the province said on Wednesday.

“There was a lot of damage to infrastructure … where it was millions worth, it’s now billions rather,” government and housing provincial minister Humphrey Mmemezi told reporters in Ivory Park, east of Johannesburg.

Mmemezi said funding for repairs would be taken from disaster management, although money might also be taken from other government projects.

“God cannot be predicted … that’s why we have disaster management in place. Other projects will be compromised to assist the needy,” he said.

Mmemezi said the department was not able to address all damages immediately and they would prioritise.

He said it was also prioritising housing for people who had shacks along the floodline, by placing those most in need on the housing projects list.

“We’re looking at those who’ve been there for a long time,” Mmemezi said, adding that people taking a chance would be rooted out.

Mmemezi and health and development provincial minister Ntombi Mekgwe spent Wednesday visiting areas affected by floods in the Gauteng. — Sapa