Human settlements relief for displaced flood victims
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Date: 2025-03-05 08:56:26

Human settlements relief for displaced flood victims

ETHEKWINI NEWSFLASH
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
4 MARCH 2025
 
HUMAN SETTLEMENTS RELIEF FOR DISPLACED FLOOD VICTIMS
 
In a continued effort to support residents devastated by recent floods, the Minister of Human Settlements Thembi Simelane, joined by KwaZulu-Natal MEC of Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma and eThekwini Mayor Councillor Cyril Xaba visited various areas in eThekwini today, 4 March, to assess the extent of the damage and to provide human settlements interventions.
 
Minister Simelane’s two-day visit to the province is aimed at emphasising government’s commitment to assist affected communities by addressing their immediate and long-term housing needs.
 
Government is prioritising sustainable housing solutions to ensure the wellbeing of displaced residents. As part of this commitment, 229 Lamontville flood victims will be permanently relocated to land owned by eThekwini Municipality in Hammarsdale.
 
Interim services such as water and sanitation will be installed to ensure the sites are liveable.
 
Today’s visit comes after recent floods in the province which resulted in several deaths. Following the heavy rains, affected people from Lamontville were relocated to temporal decent accommodation while a permanent solution is sought.
 
The National Department of Human Settlements and the Municipality are currently in search of suitable land to build houses for displaced families and those that are the most vulnerable during severe weather.
 
Speaking on the floods, Mayor Xaba said these catastrophic events have not only destroyed the City’s infrastructure but have also resulted in the loss of life. “It is important to indicate that flooding during heavy rains is related mainly to the size of the storm event and the capacity of the stormwater systems as well as the nature of the debris carried by the stormwater into the stormwater systems. Therefore, we are constantly pleading with both residents and businesses to dispose of waste in designated areas.”
 
He said in eThekwini Municipality, the stormwater systems are designed to cope with a one in 10-year storm event flow at critical points. Therefore, the recurring floods need to be scrutinised against the existing capacity of infrastructure built in terms of the required level of service to understand the risk related to exceedance of the built capacity, added Mayor Xaba. 
 
“Given the increasing frequency and magnitude of such catastrophic events caused by flooding in the eThekwini area, the City has embarked on many initiatives to reduce the risk of flooding and its impact on people’s lives and infrastructure,” said Mayor Xaba.
 
He said the City has embarked on several initiatives to reduce the risk of flooding. Some of the proactive initiatives the City is implementing to reduce flooding risks include the following:
 
• The Sihlanzimvelo pilot programme where the City maintains approximately 500km of streams in high risk areas.
• Revising the flood lines to incorporate the projected climate impact of a 15 percent increase in rainfall intensity.
 
“We are confident that these interventions will further climate proof new development in the City. Technical teams are currently being appointed to conduct a detailed assessment to identify possible solutions to government-developed properties,” said Mayor Xaba, adding that the assessment will enable the City to produce stormwater management plans for these high-risk areas.
 
ENDS 
 
Issued by eThekwini Municipality’s Communications Unit.