Seven months on still no homes for displaced flood victims

SEVEN months after their homes washed away during the heavy rains that lashed the south coast, victims of the flood, who were displaced, are still clueless as to when they will be properly housed.

What seemed like a temporary situation for shack dwellers living too close to a riverbank in Umlazi when the floods swept away their informal structures, has become a concerning matter for those housed at the Yellowwood Park Community Hall.

With mounting frustrations rising from broken promises made by various departments tasked to assist flood victims since April, those housed at the Yellowwood Park Community Hall expressed their dismay.

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Nokuthula Mkhize, who lives at the hall with her husband and four-year-old child, described the living conditions as unhealthy and unsafe.

“We thought that this would be a short stay before we are helped with somewhere safe to live, but months have gone by and we do not know anything. We are tired of being told we will be helped soon. Soon never comes. We have to sleep in the same area with 150 other people. Health and safety is my main concern,” said Mkhize.

Ntombifikile Machi, says she lived alone and was lucky to escape when heavy rains washed away her shack.
“We are unable to get answers and are left in the dark about what will happen next. Each time we think there is a solution, we do not hear from the authorities thereafter and things are still uncertain. We cannot live like this any longer,” Machi said.

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Ward 63 councillor, Gavin Hegter, said there has been no feedback or updates from the Department of Human Settlements to the displaced flood victims since promises of the move to the Transnet Hostel were made.
“Those in charge need to visit the facility and talk to those living there. Tell them what their future holds. About 3 000 people are still living in halls and other temporary facilities since the floods. The hall is not suited for living in, but it is still one of the better facilities that were made available by the municipality.

“The flood victims were promised that they will be moved to the Transnet Hostel by the end of October, and this got their hopes up. The provincial Department of Human Settlements is still in the process of negotiations with Transnet regarding the sale or lease of the building. The facility was designed to be a men’s hostel, with a one-room living area for one person and a communal bathroom facility. This does not make it a suitable place for families to live in.

“At this stage, there is no hope of them moving in the near future or by the end of this year. After negotiations, contractors will have to be sent to the premises to make the area suitable for families. The Department of Housing has offered the flood victims building materials for them to build an informal structure, either at the same area they had come from or elsewhere, but none of them have accepted the offer. They were afraid to rebuild in the same area, as they fear that they might lose their lives if heavy rains wash away their homes again,” said Hegter.

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