The MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs(COGTA),Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi has welcomed the allocation of R227,700,000.00 to municipalities within KwaZulu-Natal which was announced today by Minister for COGTA,Mr Velenkosini Hlabisa.

The funds came in a moment whereby the provincial government of KwaZulu-Natal is struggling to cope with an ongoing natural disasters which are engulfing the province in recent months and dozens of lives lost.

The department said these funds are designated to support municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal in their response to the severe weather incidents which resulted in fatalities and widespread damage across the province,with over 30 lives lost and over 10,000 individuals affected between December 2024 and March 2025.

The department revealed that the majority of these funds were disbursed by National Cogta through the National Disaster Management Centre(NDMC) between February and March 2025.

The department emphasised that this allocation will enhance ongoing efforts to assist affected communities and restore infrastructure.

The COGTA KZN mentioned that MEC Buthelezi believes that the Minister's timely intervention through this financial support will enable municipalities and departments to promptly initiate projects aimed at providing support to the affected communities.

The department highlighted that the funds will be used on projects that include the repair of roads,restoration of electricity,water,and sanitation infrastructure,and the improvement of storm water management systems.

MEC Buthelezi said:"These funds,provided through the Disaster Response Grant,will be crucial in delivering necessary aid to those impacted by these events and in addressing the resultant challenges within our communities."

The department hinted that MEC has further emphasised the necessity for careful and transparent utilisation of these resources to ensure effective support for those most affected and has vowed to ensure that the department exercises oversight and ensures that the funds are used for their intended purpose.

The Disaster Response Grant has been allocated in twenty municipalities in the province of KwaZulu-Natal alone.

The municipalities received these amounts of funding from the national government as follows:

  • Edumbe Local Municipalities:R6,800,000.00
  • Abaqulusi Local Municipality:R5,400,000.00
  • Mfolozi Local Municipality:R5,300,000.00
  • uLundi Local Municipality:R5,500,000.00
  • Zululand District Municipality:9,000,000.00
  • Uthukela District Municipality:R6,900,000.00
  • UMhlabuyalingana Local Municipality:R5,200,000.00
  • Mthonjaneni Local Municipality:R4,200,000.00
  • Nquthu Local Municipality:R5,100,000.00
  • Nkandla Local Municipality:R5,000,000.00
  • Mvoti Local Municipality:R6,400,000.00
  • Mzinyathi District Municipality:R6,500,000.00
  • Mandeni Local Municipality:R5,100,000.00
  • Umlalazi Local Municipality:R14,200,000.00
  • Alfred Duma Local Municipality:R50,000,000.00
  • Dannhauser Local Municipality:R11,200,000.00
  • Mtubatuba Local Municipality:R19,700,000.00
  • Maphumulo Local Municipality:R13,300,000.00
  • Ndwendwe Local Municipality:R25,000,000.00
  • Mpofana Local Municipality:R17,900,000.00