By Malcolm Hlongwane
Flood victims in Ntshongweni, Ward 7, have welcomed their relocation to temporary homes, ending months of living in unsafe shacks that were damaged by severe flooding.
However, the handover of the homes was overshadowed by a disagreement over who should receive credit for the project.
The visit formed part of eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba’s oversight tour to assess whether affected families had settled comfortably into the temporary accommodation after enduring difficult living conditions in leaking and unstable structures.
Ward 7 Councillor Luthando Jali said the temporary housing was the result of his efforts after he approached the National Department of Human Settlements when, according to him, eThekwini Municipality failed to provide assistance.
Mayor Xaba, however, maintained that the project was delivered through a joint initiative involving eThekwini Municipality, the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government and the National Government, saying it was not the work of a single individual.
For residents, the focus was on finally having a safe place to live. Flood victim Fikile Shange expressed gratitude for being moved from her collapsing home into decent temporary accommodation.
“I am happy to have left the house that was falling apart and to be living in a better place, even if it is temporary,” she said.
Mayor Xaba also announced that government plans to build a further 1,200 subsidised homes as part of ongoing efforts to provide permanent housing for vulnerable families in the municipality.
