Winde says Western Cape needs to plan better for climate change disasters

CAPE TOWN - Western Cape Premier Alan Winde says the province needs to plan better for climate change disasters that threaten lives and infrastructure.

On Thursday, political parties will debate the Opening of Parliament Address (OPA) he delivered on Wednesday, in which he said the province is feeling the fury of the climate change crisis.

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Winde said R1.3 billion in disaster funding was still due to the province following the 2023 floods.

He added his new administration would have to work differently if it’s to withstand natural disasters.

While the dams might be filled to capacity right now, the situation can change rapidly.

Just three weeks before July’s floods, the province was preparing for a dry winter.

“It wasn’t so long ago that we had Day Zero. Just a few years before that, our dams were also propvol [packed full].”

Winde said it’s unacceptable that Citrusdal has been cut off twice due to flooding in the past 12 months.

“We need to urgently identify the infrastructure, land, and water sources that could be vulnerable to flooding and, of course, to fires. In this financial year, we must become more proactive.”

The premier said he would also be appealing to the housing minister to make it easier to help vulnerable residents who need emergency housing in times of crisis.