Hope for displaced Umgababa flood victims
eThekwini Municipality is surveying land that has been identified – to build houses for families affected by the recent floods.
THERE is some light at the end of the tunnel for displaced Umgababa families who had their homes destroyed by floods in April. They were moved to temporary shelters until homes for them can be rebuilt. Land to build them houses has been provisionally identified.
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The victims are sheltered at Umnini Thusong Hall, as well as at the N2 Ultra City market stalls since April. eThekwini Municipality’s spokesperson, Msawasawakhe Mayisela, said land has been identified for these families, pending the outcome of the technical studies which are currently underway.
“The city is working closely with government and private stakeholders to ensure that residents who were displaced are housed,” said Mayisela.
Ward 98 councillor, Arthur Mgobhozi, said finding suitable land to build on has not been easy.
“It is a known fact that there is a scarcity of suitable land where houses can be built. We have been in talks with amakhosi (chiefs), government departments, as well as eThekwini Municipality to resolve this matter,” said Mgobhozi.
Reverend Bafana Mtshali, of the St. John’s Church of Prophecy, and Mthoko Gawozi are some of the victims that had to move to the shelters with their respective families after a landslide destroyed their homes. Gawozi came back in the morning from working the night shift, only to find a pile of rubble where his house once stood. Mtshali’s church slid several yards down the slope but did not collapse. Both the church building and the parsonage were left with cracks that rendered them unsafe to be occupied.
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