ETHEKWINI NEWSFLASH

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

24 DECEMBER 2022

 

 

Today marks the end of a difficult chapter for many families who were accommodated in halls and other mass care centres following the devastating April floods which washed away many homes. Today, on the eve of Christmas, the last families were relocated from mass care centres.

 

It took an aggressive relocation programme by all spheres of government, including eThekwini Municipality, to keep the promise that the government had made that no family would spend Christmas in a mass care centre. 

 

EThekwini Mayor Councillor Mxolisi Kaunda thanked the families for their patience during what has been a difficult year. “When we promised that no family would spend Christmas in a mass care centre there were many sceptics. Indeed, some politicians even turned the issue of mass care centres into a political football to score points, but we were steadfast in our quest to restore dignity to flood victims. Today, we can proudly say we have kept our promise,” said a beaming Kaunda. 

 

A total of 120 mass care centres housing 8541 families has been closed.  

 

Over the last few months the government programme to close mass care centres involved a combination of material supply, extension of transit camps, provision of transitional emergency accommodation, leasing of private buildings, acquiring private buildings, use of government buildings and the building of temporary residential units.

 

Kaunda lauded the strong leadership from various spheres from government in delivering what was thought to be Mission Impossible. “The successful relocation of flood victims is a great example of a caring government working well together for the benefit of communities. We are also grateful to officials who worked day and night to ensure that all families spend Christmas in family-friendly accommodation,” he said.

 

Kaunda’s words were echoed by Winnie Gumede who has been living in KwaNozaza Hall in Ntuzuma. “I came from KwaNgcolosi to this hall during the floods in April. I lost everything during the floods and life has been difficult in the hall, but today I only have gratitude because we are moving to decent accommodation in Reservoir Hills,” she said.

 

Land parcels have been identified to build permanent houses for flood victims in the next 24 months.

 

ENDS

 

Issued by the eThekwini Municipality’s Communication Unit. For more information, contact Mayoral Spokesman Mluleki Mntungwa on 060 974 4033.