R25m CapeNature flooding damage underscores need for state of disaster
12 September 2023
The DA in the Western Cape calls on the National Department of Cooperative Governance to urgently process the Western Cape Government’s application to have a Provincial State of Disaster declared.
A survey of the damage caused by the June 2023 floods put the total loss to repair infrastructure at over R1 billion. CapeNature reserves in the Western Cape suffered almost R25 million in damages. The bulk of the damage relates to internal access roads that were washed away. These damages are not covered by short-term insurance policies.
This was revealed by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning in reply to DA parliamentary question.
The Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve alone suffered R15 million in damages, including severe damage to internal roads resulting in limited or no access to service hiking trail huts, Cape Canopy Tours, and research and firefighting infrastructure. The highly popular camping site at Algeria in the Cederberg, is currently still inaccessible for normal caravans. CapeNature is doing its utmost to restore access in time for the festive season.
The Standing Committee on Environmental Affairs and Development Planning visited the Cederberg Nature Reserve last week, and saw first-hand the impressive work done by CapeNature officials to reopen some of the tourism facilities. Much work however still needs to be done, as the access roads to some areas are still impassable.
The fact is that the cost of these repairs should not be covered by the Provincial Government, as there is a process in place to release disaster funding from the National Government for events such as these.
Our nature reserves are key tourist attractions and it is of the utmost importance that they are accessible and in top shape come the summer tourism season. We cannot allow a lack of urgency from the ANC government to leave our infrastructure, including that within our reserves, in disrepair.
Issued by Andricus van der Westhuizen, DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, 12 September 2023
