Local Government, Environment Affairs and Development Planning

Question by: 
Hon Dave Bryant
Answered by: 
Hon Anton Bredell
Question Number: 
4
Question Body: 

(a)  How is his Department monitoring whether municipalities have adequately maintained stormwater infrastructure ahead of winter and (b) which municipalities have adequately maintained their stormwater infrastructure ahead of winter?

Answer Body: 

(a) The Department monitors municipal winter readiness for stormwater through (i) the annual Department of Local Government’s Provincial Disaster Management Centre Winter Readiness process and review of District/Municipal Winter Readiness and Preparedness Plans, (ii) ongoing intergovernmental engagement and support to municipalities (section 154), and (iii) quarterly municipal monitoring (service delivery and infrastructure-planning indicators), including whether operation and maintenance (O&M) plans are in place.

Capital support: Municipal Infrastructure Grant-funded roads programmes typically includes stormwater drainage elements, as follows:

  • From July 2020–Jun 2025, 144 Roads & Stormwater projects were implemented (MIG contribution R798,451,250).
  • In 2025/26, 29 projects were underway with spend of R110,224,855 (as at end-Apr 2026).
  • A further 114 projects are identified for Jul 2026–Jun 2029 (planned MIG contribution R314,768,488).

(b) It should be noted that while Operations and Maintenance is a municipal function, the Department, through its municipal monitoring and support role, assists municipalities by identifying potential flood risks. Subsequently, the Department engages with the relevant local municipalities and requests that appropriate measures be implemented to mitigate these identified flood risks.

All municipalities within the Western Cape were instructed by the Department to take the necessary steps to address the anticipated risk of flooding by maintaining stormwater infrastructure. The Department’s latest municipal monitoring indicates; based on anticipated flood risks and some being of the most vulnerable municipalities, that the following have taken the necessary steps to address those aforementioned risks:

  • The City of Cape Town
  • Beaufort West
  • Prince Albert
  • Lainsburg
  • Saldanha Bay
  • Swartland
  • Cederberg
  • Bergrivier
  • Overstrand
  • Langeberg

However, the municipalities not listed could not confirm whether they have actioned the request or not.

Date: 
Thursday, May 21, 2026
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