Briardene’s Angel to receive new home from Wellness Centre Trust
A resident of the Briardene Informal Settlement, Angel Hlongwa's home as well as the land it was built on, was destroyed in the floods.
ONE of the candidates, which The Wellness Centre Trust is assisting, is Angel Hlongwa whose home in Briardene and the property it is built on, was destroyed by the heavy rain.
RELATED STORY: Parkhill centre aims to provide calm after the storm
Speaking to Northglen News outside her home Hlongwa, said officials from eThekwini Municipality met with her last week and informed her that the ground which her home is built on, is no longer stable.
Her home is built at the top of a hill which is unstable and is now unsafe for her and other families to rebuild on.
“My home will have to be rebuilt completely. The officials said they will have to look for new property for me and my neighbours to move to and rebuild. For now, I am living with friends,” she said.
Hlongwa’s 25-year-old daughter, Xolile Xulu, also lives with her and has had to move in with her mother’s friends too.
“I was told by the City officials that there is a lot of red tape involved and they will need to obtain special permission from certain departments in order to rebuild,” said Hlongwa.
She said she has lived in Briardene Informal Settlement for 15 years but it was the first time she had experienced something so devastating and traumatic.
“There was heavy rain in 2017 as well. We thought that was the worst, but the recent flood was far worse. We didn’t sleep on that Monday night. My neighbours and I stayed awake all night just in case something happened to us,” she said.
Hlongwa, with the help of her neighbours and friends, managed to move her furniture out of her home, preventing it from being damaged.
“I am grateful to still have a roof over my head but it’s difficult with so many people living in one room. I am also grateful to the Wellness Centre Trust for helping me rebuild my home,” she said.
