THE South Durban Basin’s vulnerability to flooding was laid bare in April 2022 when floodwaters created a swamp in one of the most strategic industrial complexes in the country. With years of experience in flood mitigation, the Dutch government has collaborated with eThekwini Municipality to recommend actions to improve the South Durban Basin’s resilience.
According to eThekwini Municipality, an integrated risk mitigation approach remains the beacon of hope for the South Durban Basin community and businesses. This was emphasised during the handover of the Dutch Risk Reduction and Surge (DRRS) report by the Netherlands Ambassador to eThekwini Municipality earlier in October.
The report highlights the necessary steps that should be implemented to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change, especially flooding.
“We are happy to receive the report from the project that started in July 2023. This is a significant milestone in our collaborative efforts to address the impacts of climate change and promote sustainable development in eThekwini. The report seeks to provide a roadmap that will assist in the development of a comprehensive flood-resilient strategy for the Prospecton area in the South Durban Basin. The direct and indirect damage of the 2022 floods has an estimated cost of R75 billion,” said eThekwini Deputy Mayor Zandile Myeni.
She acknowledged the progress made and the challenges that lie ahead for all stakeholders involved in the project. The DRRS programme presents an opportunity to develop a framework that will change how natural disasters are handled.
“Learning from a country that is renowned for water management will put the City on the global map as a resilient City and significantly reduce the loss of lives and property during flood disasters,” she said. EThekwini City Manager Musa Mbhele said the report will help guide the city in exploring new developments and risk mitigation measures. “The report will assist the city to safeguard the economy as we will be implementing all the recommendations stipulated in the report by the Netherlands government,” said Mbhele.
The report says the road to resilience requires a dedicated multi-agency team and a blended finance approach.
Netherlands Ambassador to South Africa, Joanne Doornewaard emphasised her country’s commitment to supporting the Municipality in redesigning the City to be resilient, smart and capable of meeting the challenges posed by adverse weather conditions.
Download full report here
