Montclair Lodge purchased by KZN government for R33 million to accommodate evicted flood victims
Image: SIBONELO NGCOBO / Independent Newspapers
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport and Human Resources said it purchased the Montclair Lodge from Transnet for R33 million — the facility, which includes 268 rooms with a bed capacity of 600, will be repurposed to house over 150 evicted flood victims.
The announcement was made by KZN MEC for Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma
'We wish to announce that we have bought this facility, the Montclair Lodge, from Transnet,' Duma said.
He confirmed that the official transfer of ownership took place on May 31, 2025.
'In other words, we will no longer use private facilities as part of the Temporary Emergency Accommodation (TEA),' he said.
The announcement comes after more than 150 flood victims were evicted from the Bayside Hotel in Durban's city center due to the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Human Settlements' failure to make payments.
The victims, who were originally displaced by devastating floods earlier this year, will now be temporarily housed at the Chesterville Community Hall.
The department previously said R185 million has already been paid to various hotels for emergency accommodations.
An additional R128 million is needed to accommodate 1,200 displaced individuals.
Many of the affected victims have been without permanent housing since the April 2022 floods.
They come from various parts of eThekwini.
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Duma said the Montclair Lodge will be managed by the Housing Development Agency on behalf of the KZN Department of Human Settlements.
'A professional engineer will be appointed before the end of July 2025 to conduct a basic assessment, which will determine the scope of work for the refurbishment,' he said.
The department has allocated R4.2 million for the assessment and a minimum of R35 million for refurbishment. A contractor will be appointed immediately after the assessment report is completed.
Duma said it is anticipated that some flood victims will be able to occupy the lodge by December 2025 or January 2026.
'Our plan is to ensure that we are ready for heavy rainfall and flooding associated with the summer season,' he said.
'This milestone of a government-owned transitional emergency accommodation will drastically reduce the rent paid to privately owned transitional emergency accommodations.'
simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za
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