• 17 Apr 2024

FLOOD RELIEF EFFORTS IN MARGATE ARE ENCOURAGING

Media and Public Statement by the MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental  Affairs Siboniso Duma

Margate: Unfortunately, the gains we have made in our quest to ensure economic recovery and the growth of tourism are threatened by recurring storms and floods. 

Margate in Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality is the latest city to be battered by heavy rains. 

Today, MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Mr Siboniso Duma , the Mayor of Ugu District Municipality, Cllr. Sikhumbuzo Mqadi, and the Mayor of Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality, Cllr. Zodwa Mzindle, interacted with affected informal traders and businesses along the beach.

We also visited Margate Airport, which was flooded.

As the department, we injected R11 million towards the renovation of this airport.

In particular, we commend the district and local municipality for working jointly to clear debris that has been accumulating on Margate Beach and on the road.

Although we have seen the restoration of water, electricity, and other essential services, we believe that a declaration of a disaster will help speed up the recovery processes.

In this regard, I have also personally interacted with the President of the Republic, His Excellency Cyril Ramaphosa, who has always provided bold leadership during such crises.

We are comforted by the fact that the national government is in constant liaison with the province, especially the Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Thembi Nkadimeng.

She is liaising with our MEC for COGTA, Bongi Sithole-Moloi, who was here yesterday.

As the department, we have assigned senior officials to augment the work of the local sphere of government.

They have been assigned to do the following:

●Environmentalists to do environmental assessment and speed up emergency authorization and interventions;

●Flood relief packages to assist informal traders and hawkers who have been displaced and lost a source of income;

●Interventions to assist businesses affected by the destruction of socio-economic infrastructure such as roads, etc.

●Work with the municipality to accelerate interventions at Margate Airport, which was also flooded.

As we speed up relief interventions, we continue to communicate the message that climate change is the biggest threat to human development.

It  is becoming the defining challenge for the 21st century.

Our beaches are under threat because of coastal erosion, and this is the biggest environmental threat.

Scientists suggest that the global average sea level will continue to rise as a result of global warming and climate change.

Climate change is affecting almost every sector of the economy in this province.

Therefore, it is important that stakeholders work together to tackle both adaptation and mitigation.