The government says the R950 billion that was estimated to fix the flood damages in Kwazulu-Natal (KZN) was an “honest error”.
On Sunday, the provisional governor said that it would cost 950 billion to fix the flood damages affected areas in KZN.
READ ALSO: Somizi And Mohale Join Forces Amidst Divorce
The province’s infrastructure has been severely damaged, which also led to a lot of people losing their lives.
The South African government aims to restructure and rebuild the province.
Initially, the provincial government announced on its social media platforms that estimated that it would cost R940 348 500 000 to the fix Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA).
The statement raised concerns and a lot of questions on social media, as to how the government reached that amount.
However, in a revised statement, the funds allocated to the rail agency were changed to R955 449 000.
KZN government spokesperson Lennox Mabaso said it would cost an additional R1 688 100 000 for the long-term rehabilitation of pleasure infrastructure.
The overall estimation of the flood damage is now 17 billion in total.
Government spokesperson Mabasa explained that it was an honest error. In the middle of trying to work out several issues. Hence when it was observed, they immediately corrected the error.
“We regret the error. There’s nothing Untoward the error is human. Government is always open, transparent, and Accountable,” Mabasa said.
READ ALSO: Zahara Devastated By Awards Theft
Mabasa further explained that the figures reached the technical team was working with included long-term. Infrastructure rehabilitation, stating that they only wanted costs related to the floods and nothing else.
The figures were further explained that they were not final and could be adjusted upwards or downwards.
PRASA spokesperson, Andiswa Makanda, confirmed that an estimated 300 kilometers of rail infrastructure has been damaged, and more than 400 people died in the recent floods in KwaZulu natal
Since the confusion, PRASA took to its Twitter account to explain that 3 billion will be needed to restore all its network
