As KwaZulu-Natal is handed the largest portion of the R1.4 billion disaster relief fund, flood victims in Durban have raised concerns about how the funds will be used, urging transparency and accountability.

Devastating floods have in recent weeks swept through the region, many were worried that the money intended to help rebuild lives may turn into a pay-day for corrupt operators.

Simo Cele, a resident of eMhlabeni informal settlement in Lamontville, a community battered that was battered by the floods, fired a strong message for the government.

“We plead with government officials not to steal the funds. This money is meant for the people who are suffering, after losing their homes and everything they owned,” said Cele.

Cele was among the residents who have been living in the eMhlabeni transit camp since 2008 after they were relocated from uMlazi to Lamontville, also after heavy rainfall swept their former houses away.

“We understand that the relief fund is for the victims of the latest floods. We don’t have a problem with that, but we want even the independent organisations to monitor the movement of the money,” sugested Cele.

His warning echoed the sentiments of many others who had similar fears.

Among them was, Nomusa Ngcongo, also a resident of eMhlabeni. “This money is for the people. If misused, we will hold the government responsible,” stated Ngcongo.

“We will watch closely as residents if the money is spent on relief. We know many people, who were directly affected by the recent floods, including myself. If the funds don’t come to us, we will take the matter up,” she said.

The floods that ravaged KZN in February left a trail of destruction, displacing hundreds and claiming at least seven lives in Lamontville alone. Homes, businesses, and essential infrastructure were damaged in many parts of Durban and KZN.

The situation was made worse by the fact that many of the victims of the 2022 floods were not properly housed and living in temporary shelters across Durban.

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Minister, Velenkosini Hlabisa, announced the allocation of R1.44 billion to help affected provinces recover.

The funds will be channelled towards repairing infrastructure, restoring essential services, and supporting the most devastated areas, including KZN and the Eastern Cape.

The National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) has confirmed that KZN will receive R76 million for immediate recovery and R149 million for provincial infrastructure repairs. Municipalities in KZN will also receive R231 million for infrastructure repairs, and an additional R669 million for continued recovery efforts.

Concerns over how the money will be spent surfaced yet again, because of previous incidents of maladministration and corruption related to the handling of funds designated disaster relief efforts.

Like the flood victims, Hlabisa also warned government departments against any form of would-be corruption related to the disaster relief fund.

“While we welcome the allocation of funds for this purpose, we recognise that there have been instances where these funds have not been used as intended.

To address this, we have established strict conditions and compliance measures for the use of these grants,” he said.

“Some municipalities are misallocating funds intended for vital infrastructure projects, diverting them instead to cover operational expenses. This not only undermines the integrity of the grant conditions but also jeopardises the long-term benefits and sustainability of community development,” he said.

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