Following emerging concerns over the possibility of misappropriation of the KwaZulu-Natal flood relief funds coming in from different individuals, organisations and the government, the South African Government is reconsidering setting up a special agency to manage all aid coming into the province.
The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation in a statement, warned against intention of government officials to steal or misuse funds allocated for flood disaster victims and destroyed infrastructure. The organisation pointed out that during Covid-19, funds were diverted, and history must not repeat itself.
“Public infrastructure damaged due to the floods will have to be repaired in due course. There are likely to be significant public tenders for such reconstruction efforts, which unscrupulous business entities will want to exploit,” the organisation said.
“This is where business criminals and looters will be focused in the hope they will personally benefit. We cannot let the Covid-19 and state capture experiences go without learning from them,” the foundation said.
The KZN floods death toll hit 445, as missing persons who were possibly swept away, were yet unaccounted for.
Many people have lost their property and homes, with roads and bridges destroyed.
On Tuesday, the government said the majority of people whose homes were destroyed in the KwaZulu-Natal floods would be moved to temporarily shelters, as plans to renovate affected property and infrastructure were ongoing.
Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele has explained that the Treasury, Department of Performance Monitoring and Evaluation in the Presidency and the Auditor-General, had already presented a mini framework with the disaster management centre to see to the diligent management of funds released for humanitarian aid in KZN.
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala stated that “all the resources allocated for flood relief and the recovery and building process will be utilised in line with fiscal prudency, accountability, transparency and openness.”