Govt Rolls Out Emergency Disaster Grants to Aid Provinces Hit by April 2025 Floods

The national government will on Monday, 7 July 2025, formally launch a comprehensive disaster funding initiative aimed at restoring essential services and supporting communities ravaged by recent natural disasters. The announcement, to be made by Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Velenkosini Hlabisa, will unveil allocations under the Municipal Disaster Response Grant and the Disaster Recovery Grant, providing urgent financial support to affected provinces and municipalities.

A Response to National Calamity

The disbursement comes on the heels of several destructive weather events—most notably the devastating April 2025 floods, which inflicted severe damage across the country, with the Eastern Cape emerging as the hardest-hit region. The floods claimed approximately 102 lives and led to significant infrastructure collapse, prompting a coordinated emergency response.

The Department of CoGTA confirmed that these events were officially declared national disasters, as outlined in Section 23(3) of the Disaster Management Act, 2002 (Act No. 57 of 2002). The funding support being mobilized falls under Section 25(3)(a) of the Division of Revenue Act, 2023 (Act No. 5 of 2023), later amended by Act No. 24 of 2023 to streamline funding for urgent national needs.

Eastern Cape Declared a Disaster Zone

Following the catastrophic impact of the April and June floods, the Eastern Cape was formally declared a national disaster zone by the provincial leadership. The declaration was spearheaded by Eastern Cape CoGTA MEC Zolile Williams, reinforcing the need for exceptional measures to address the scale of devastation.

This designation has enabled the national government to activate targeted funding interventions and deploy specialized resources to the region. Emergency services, municipal infrastructure, and critical support programs for displaced individuals are expected to be revitalized under the new funding stream.

Transparent, Accountable, and Community-Focused

In an effort to ensure accountability, CoGTA has pledged to implement robust monitoring and reporting mechanisms in collaboration with municipalities, provincial departments, and other stakeholders. These systems will uphold transparency, track grant utilization, and deter any potential misuse of funds.

“Strict accountability mechanisms will be implemented to guarantee that the allocated resources are used solely for their intended purposes,” the department emphasized.

The funding will not only be directed toward infrastructure restoration but also toward reviving essential public services, such as water and sanitation systems, public housing, and health facilities—many of which were damaged or destroyed in the floods. Community dignity and resilience are central pillars of the recovery strategy.

A Shift Toward Proactive Governance

Minister Hlabisa’s forthcoming announcement signifies more than just a financial intervention—it marks a critical shift toward proactive and responsive disaster governance. By accelerating the movement from policy formulation to operational execution, the government is signaling a renewed commitment to safeguarding vulnerable communities and enhancing local government's disaster readiness.

“This intervention reflects government’s commitment to moving from policy deliberation to decisive action,” the department stated, adding that the broader goal is to create “a resilient, responsive, and inclusive system of local governance that places the needs of communities at the centre of development.”

Forward Strategy

The Department of Cooperative Governance is expected to coordinate with national treasury, municipalities, and provincial disaster management centers to roll out the grant allocations swiftly following the formal announcement. Priority will be given to communities with the greatest humanitarian needs and most severe infrastructure losses.

As climate-related disasters continue to escalate in frequency and intensity, this allocation serves as both a short-term lifeline and a long-term investment in disaster mitigation and institutional reform.