Durban flood victims sleeping on the street amid R128m debt to hotel
Among those include children
This comes after they were evicted from their temporary accommodation.
The Human Settlements Department confirms that the owner of the hotel they'd been placed in has since kicked them out, over an outstanding bill of R128 million.
The flood victims had been staying in the accommodation for almost five months since they were moved from Lamontvile.
At the time heavy rains had lashed through the community leaving trails of disruption.
Department of Human Settlements spokesperson Ndabezinhle Sibiya explains that there has been a delay in processing of payments but efforts to turn around the situation are in motion.
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KwaZulu-Natal MEC appeals for flood victims to accept relocation offer amid housing crisis
The April 2022 floods left hundreds dead and caused a trail of destruction to infrastructure, businesses, homes, and communities. Image: Doctor Ngcobo / Independent Media The plight of over 150 flood victims in KwaZulu-Natal has reached a critical juncture following their eviction from the Bayside Hotel in Durban's CBD as provincial authorities grapple with a mounting housing crisis. Transport and Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma has made an urgent appeal for these individuals, which include vulnerable women and young children, to accept offers for temporary shelter provided by the department. The flood victims found themselves abruptly displaced when the provincial department could not sustain payment for their accommodation at the hotel. With a substantial allocation of R185 million intended for temporary housing for more than 1,200 families, the department now faces the grim reality of needing an additional R128 million to continue supporting these displaced communities. Tensions have escalated among the victims, many of whom refuse relocation to the Chesterville Community Hall, which officials claim is equipped to provide adequate shelter. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. 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Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ A small but vocal group has mobilised against the move, fostering an environment of aggression and intimidation. 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The department attributed delays in payments to caution regarding potential audit findings related to irregular expenditures. A recent meeting with the Human Rights Commission further underscored the severity of the crisis and the pressing need for actionable solutions. Compounding the situation is the acknowledgment that the funds expended on temporary accommodation could have been diverted to constructing homes for these displaced families. Efforts to build houses on state-owned land in Shallcross and other areas have faced significant obstacles, with contracts being jeopardised by community resistance and intimidation against contractors. Many of the affected families had previously resided in floodplains and other areas unsuitable for long-term housing, complicating any reconstruction attempts. Since the April 2022 floods, these families have endured a series of relocations—beginning at Bayview Community Hall, moving to Impala Flats at South Beach, and finally landing at the Bayside Hotel four months ago. Families hail from various locations, including Umlazi, Lamontville, and Chatsworth. The Democratic Alliance (DA) has voiced strong criticism regarding the provincial department's handling of the crisis, particularly focusing on communication failures and inadequate support following the evictions. They have called for urgent intervention to alleviate the suffering of those affected, pressing for government accountability in addressing the ongoing fallout from the natural disaster.
eNCA
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Durban flood victims sleeping on the street amid R128m debt to hotel
DURBAN - Over hundreds of survivors of the recent floods in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal are sleeping on the streets. Among those include children This comes after they were evicted from their temporary accommodation. The Human Settlements Department confirms that the owner of the hotel they'd been placed in has since kicked them out, over an outstanding bill of R128 million. The flood victims had been staying in the accommodation for almost five months since they were moved from Lamontvile. At the time heavy rains had lashed through the community leaving trails of disruption. Department of Human Settlements spokesperson Ndabezinhle Sibiya explains that there has been a delay in processing of payments but efforts to turn around the situation are in motion.
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Umkhanyakude District Municipality on Wednesday rushed to mobilise and deploy TLBs to Khula Village outside St Lucia, to assist with the deluge experienced due to disruptive rain. District Mayor Siphile Mdaka on Wednesday morning said this is the area that was identified thus far as being hardest hit. ALSO READ: Lowest annual rainfall in 8 years 'As you will know, parts of that area are wetlands so that is where rain will settle, but we will send TLBs to assist,' said Mdaka. He added that he was working to rope in the Department of Human Settlements to assist in Ndumo, Jozini where last week severe weather conditions left homes destroyed and one person dead. 'We are working on assisting the family of the deceased with burial efforts where we can,' said the district mayor. Meanwhile, Khula Village Councillor Ntokozo Mlungwana sympathised with community members who were adversely affected by the downpour. Mlungwana visited sections of his ward, which were severely affected by the rain, engaging with residents to find solutions. There were reports of inundation in the village's neighbouring ward, Dukuduku, with residents struggling to enter or leave their homes. The R618 between St Lucia and Monzi was also flooded. Don't have the ZO app? Download it to your Android or Apple device here: HAVE YOUR SAY Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter. For news straight to your phone invite us: WhatsApp – 060 784 2695 Instagram – zululand_observer At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
