Durban — A group of Durban families who were displaced after their homes were destroyed during the April floods were housed at the Astra Building in the Durban CBD on Tuesday.
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube said more than 1 600 flood victims were being relocated from community mass care shelters to new decent accommodation. She said that three buildings were being made available, namely the Astra Building, O’Flaherty Building in Clare Estate and Pinetown Student Village. Combined, they will shelter 1 046 victims.
Dube-Ncube said that last week, five mass care centres in KwaDukuza Municipality were closed and by Monday the remaining four would be closed.
Dube-Ncube said 1 046 families who were in mass care centres had been processed, and 531 of them would be housed at Astra Building.
Dube-Ncube said the reason it has taken so long to build in some of these areas to fully transfer the flood displaced was due to resistance and disruption from some communities in northern KZN of the building process.
“We have made many strides if you consider that over 14 449 people were displaced with 4 983 left totally homeless. Seven months later, we are close to pronouncing that no flood victims will spend Christmas in a mass care centre,” said Dube-Ncube.
Dube-Ncube also said that the government has also aided the victims by successfully implementing immediate humanitarian assistance. This comes in the form of social relief of distress grants, food, water, shelter, sanitation, clothes and blankets.
A flood victim, Ntombiyeza Zwelonke, 34, hoped that life would be easier for herself and her children.
Zwelonke was initially moved to Mountview Hall in Verulam on April 13. They had been there for eight months.
Another flood victim, Zinhle Mdaka, 31, said she was happy to move into the Durban CBD because the building was better than the last centre.
“The previous accommodation facility was crowded. There was no peace, and it was difficult to rest peacefully,” she said.
Daily News