The eThekwini municipality has told parliament’s ad hoc joint committee on flood disaster relief and recovery that the resettlement of flood victims into permanent homes should be complete by late December.
The committee is conducting follow-up visits to areas that were severely affected by the April floods in KwaZulu-Natal, and receiving updates from the provincial government and municipalities on the progress after the region was hit by back-to-back floods in April and May.
The cost of human settlement is R1.8bn, and R92m to fix damages to hostels and other buildings owned by the city. The total cost to infrastructure damage in the entire province is estimated at R30bn.
“The damage was not only to informal settlements or housing related stock but also major infrastructure, including roads sanitation water and electricity and social capital infrastructure,” said Beryl Khanyile, head of eThekwini’s human settlements, engineering infrastructure and public transport department.
The April rains claimed the lives of 456 with more than 80 people reported missing in Durban, which was hardest hit. The damage to public infrastructure is estimated at R25bn with losses mainly to roads, rail and bridges, housing, water, sanitation, electricity, agriculture, and manufacturing. Businesses suffered damage estimated at R7bn. A total of 85,280 people were affected, with nearly 7,000 left homeless.
The city has come under pressure from community based and housing lobby groups who have accused officials of dragging their feet and not addressing victims with transparency. Water supply in certain areas remains a major challenge with the city’s ageing infra structure also of major concern for residents.
“We need a new public housing waiting list devised by communities without any input from political parties, municipal officials or government-appointed consultants. This is the only way forward,” said Abahlali baseMjondolo president S’bu Zikode. He said told Business Day that local and provincial government must provide improved settlements and better services so storm water don’t flood homes.
“There are also a number of areas in KwaZulu-Natal that do not have water at the moment because of the rain, and people cannot afford to buy water so I do not know how long they will be able to survive without having access to water.”
KwaZulu-Natal premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube said the province would continue to work towards mitigating the effects of climate change. “As the province, we are part of the Under2 Coalition, which is the global network advocating for carbon emissions towards net zero by 2050. We shall continue using this platform to learn and mobilise more support towards climate change programmes.
“We are determined to intensify our work on mitigating the effect of climate change, including budgeting and mainstreaming, research, community awareness and education as well as building resilient infrastructure.”
Various engagements with the private sector and other entities including Transnet to find suitable temporary shelter for the homeless, have been concluded.
“The purchase of land, including the land parcels owned by Tongaat Hulett in La Mercy, will help build permanent houses for the displaced communities. We pointed out in the past that in order to speed up the process of the construction of the temporary residential units and homes in acquired land parcels, it has been agreed that the provincial department of human settlements must be involved in the planning and provision of bulk infrastructure such as water and electricity,” she added.
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