KZN floods: 'No room for corruption' of relief funds - Ramaphosa

Ramaphosa says the country might need to cough up billions to assist our province. 

"It will be critical, as we undertake this work, that all the resources we mobilise are used for their intended purposes and reach the intended recipients. There can be no room for corruption, mismanagement or fraud of any sort. 

"Learning from the experience of the Covid-19 pandemic, we are drawing together various stakeholders to be part of an oversight structure to ensure all funds disbursed to respond to this disaster are properly accounted for and that the state receives value for money." 

READ: KZN floods: Ramaphosa announces national state of disaster

The office of the Auditor-General, business, the religious sector, labour, community-based organisations and professional bodies like engineers and accountants have been asked to step in as oversight bodies. 

"We are determined that there must be transparency and accountability as the projects are costed and implemented, as well as how resources are deployed from the beginning, not after the money has either been wasted or stolen,” the president says.

Ramaphosa has asked the Solidarity Fund to assist with humanitarian aid and other forms of relief. It has set up a separate bank account for the flood disaster. 

"The National Treasury will make an initial amount of funds available as part of our efforts with the Solidarity Fund to implement these support measures."

ALSO READ: KZN floods displace hundreds of animals

"The Solidarity Fund has effectively managed the resources that government, the private sector and many South Africans made available to manage the Covid-19 effort as well as the July 2021 unrest assistance measures."