When disasters strike, the National Disaster Management Centre, under the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, can disburse two types of grants: response grants for emergency relief – such as urgent repairs to infrastructure and emergency provision of goods and services – and recovery grants to support the longer-term rehabilitation and reconstruction.

In the 2023/24 financial year, R873-million rand in disaster response grants was allocated to 75 municipalities. Yet only 25 municipalities spent 80% or more of their funding. Thirty municipalities didn’t spend a cent. By year-end, just R220.5-million – 25% of the total available – had been used.

King Sabata Dalindyebo local municipality, where Mthatha is based, was one of 22 municipalities in the Eastern Cape that received disaster relief funding in the 2023/24 financial year. It was granted R5.4-million and spent 94% of it, which is encouraging.

Unspent funds may be reallocated by the National Treasury unless already committed to projects.