A report on the cost of the damage to parts of eThekwini municipality during the recent heavy rains puts the figure at more than R1.4bn.
The report — presented by the disaster management and emergency controls unit to the city’s executive committee on Tuesday — covers downpours in February and early March except for rainfall which caused widespread flooding on March 13 and 14, the impact of which is still being assessed.
That rainfall resulted in entrapments, damaged houses, flooded and blocked roads and several accidents.
“The report included proactive measurements, incident and damage assessments, as well as costs associated with recovery,” the city said on Wednesday.
“Cost implications from these rains amount to R1,368,668,774 for capital expenditure and R59,724,150 for operating expenditure.”
Three people from two homes in KwaMakhutha, south of Durban, were buried alive by mudslides when their houses collapsed on February 20.