The Western Cape has incurred over R1.8 billion in flood damage to its roads. Image: Food for Mzansi
(The Post News)- Since June 2023, the Western Cape has incurred over R1.8 billion in flood damage to its roads. Dirk Wessels, Democratic Alliance (DA) Western Cape spokesperson on infrastructure had said the alarming figure underscores the profound impact of climate change on the design, construction, maintenance, and operation of the province’s road infrastructure.
Wessels said that in light of these challenges, the department of infrastructure is proactively mitigating risks by ensuring that new infrastructure is built to be more resilient to the impacts of climate change. Wessels said the severe flood damage more specifically in rural areas has created unsafe commuting conditions and has often cut off communities from essential access to neighboring areas critical for economic exchange and livelihoods.
And, several roads continue to be affected by the weather events and require permanent maintenance and repair, however the success of the efforts are contingent upon available budget resources which may take years to complete considering the overall reduction in the transport and infrastructure budget.
“The budget cuts across various departments within the Western Cape Government may further hinder the transport infrastructure branch’s ability to carry out necessary flood damage repairs,” says Wessels.
He further adds the recent flood damage highlights the urgent need for South Africa at large to adapt infrastructure to changing weather patterns, and the Democratic Alliance is committed to working together with the Western Cape Government to practical solutions that will protect their communities and ensure safer travel across the province.
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