Minister Hlabisa prioritises infrastructure recovery following deadly Mpumalanga floods

As mop-up operations continue in various parts of Mpumalanga, the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Velenkosini Hlabisa, has asserted that the restoration of public infrastructure must be the primary focus.

Minister Hlabisa visited parts of the province on Saturday to assess the scale of the damage caused by recent heavy rains and flooding. Since the start of the rainy season late last year, weather-related incidents have tragically claimed the lives of 20 people.

The province’s transport network has been severely compromised. Roads and bridges have sustained significant damage, with the provincial government estimating that approximately R1 billion is required to repair the road network alone.

READ: Damage caused by Mpumalanga floods estimated to be around R2bn

The Minister’s oversight visit began in Msholozi Village and concluded in Bushbuckridge.

Both communities have been identified as being among the most severely affected areas. During his visit, Hlabisa also met with the families of two individuals who were recently killed due to the inclement weather conditions.

Minister Hlabisa emphasised that repairing damaged infrastructure is a matter of urgency to ensure the safety and well-being of residents.

"If this road cannot be fixed within a short space of time, it is going to be a great [hardship] for our communities. When someone is sick, it is going to be difficult for ambulances to come here—really, the situation is very bad. The infrastructure needs priority attention."

The Minister confirmed that he will be meeting with all relevant departments to coordinate the recovery effort. Meanwhile, the MEC for Public Works, Roads, and Transport, Thulasizwe Thomo, stated that his team will be developing a formal recovery plan in the near future.