South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal provincial government will need at least US$1.13 billion to rebuild its infrastructure following recent flash floods that left over 400 people dead, KwaZulu-Natal premier Sihle Zikalala has said.
According to the premier, “the greatest (financial) cost of this disaster has been in infrastructure which has been destroyed.”
“As we rebuild the physical environment around us, we must accept that it will take longer and undertake a much more nuanced programme for us to rebuild and restore hope and trust among the victims and the survivors,” the premier said.
Nearly 17,438 households were affected by the disaster, placing at least 121,687 people in dire need of aid – with the death toll standing at 435 people, while 54 are still missing, he said.
Out of the US$1.13 billion preliminary cost, the damage to Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) facilities – which includes 300 km of rail infrastructure lost to the floods –
Stood at about US$64 million, with long-term rehabilitation work estimated at US$112 million, Prasa spokesperson Andiswa Makanda said.
But complete recovery from the flooding for Prasa was estimated to cost between $187 million and $200 million, according to Makanda.
NM/jn/APA