Durban - KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Human Settlements Dr Ntuthuko Mahlaba says there are no fears of flood victims refusing to leave temporary emergency accommodation once their permanent homes have been completed.
Mahlaba said this at the closure of the Truro Hall care centre in Westville, Durban, after 47 families were relocated from the hall to a 50-room building in Reservoir Hills.
When the MEC was asked whether there were contractual agreements in place to ensure that the flood victims moved out when they had to and that the landlord was protected, he said they expected no challenges when that time came as they had held many engagements with the families about the processes of relocation.
“The move into this 50-roomed block is only temporary while their permanent homes are being built in the area. We don’t foresee any of the families refusing to leave the unit as their homes would be bigger and they would have full ownership.”
Mahlaba said the homeowners would be issued with title deeds for their permanent homes once they had moved in.
The MEC also mentioned that to alleviate unemployment among the flood victims, some of them will be hired to work on the construction site for the permanent housing.
“Through engagements with the flood victims we have discovered that we have a lot of skilled people. Some are carpenters, bricklayers, etc., and their skills will be of good use in construction of their homes,” he said.