Latest news with #BaysideHotel
Eyewitness News
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
eThekwini responds to DA's claim about flood victims as 'political grandstanding'
DURBAN - The eThekwini Metro Municipality has responded to claims by the Democratic Alliance (DA) that it failed to take responsibility when flood victims were evicted from their temporary residence. At least 150 people were left stranded when the Bayside Hotel threw them out on the street over the delayed payment of R128 million by government. The DA has called on the SA Human Rights Commission and Public Protector to investigate human rights violations, citing the municipality's account for the eviction. The metro has refuted the claims accusing the DA of playing politics. Last week, when the flood victims were left destitute, Human Settlement MEC Siboniso Duma went to Gauteng to meet the ministry to resolve the matter. This was followed by a R30 million purchase of the Montclair Lodge to house the flood victims. Despite this intervention, the DA said the metro should have acted first since the victims are residents of eThekwini. DA eThekwini caucus leader, Thabani Mthethwa, said, 'Whether those people were put in there by the national or provincial government, as part of the District Development Model the Municipality should have taken responsibility in making sure that they are taken care of.' Meanwhile city spokesperson Gugu Sisilana said, 'The actions of reporting the Bayside Hotel evictions of the flood victims to the Human Rights Commission and the Public Protector is an exercise in futility, and desperate political grandstanding because the matter relating to the dignified resettlement of flood victims has been sufficiently dealt with by all spheres of government.'
IOL News
11-07-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Human Settlements department seeks additional R128 million for flood victims' accommodation
Flood victims sit with their belongings in the Durban CBD yesterday. They were evicted from the hotel they were staying after the Human Settlements department failed to pay for their accommodation. Image: SIBONELO NGCOBO / Independent Newspapers Human Settlements needs an additional R128 million to continue accommodating the flood victims who are currently living in hotels and other private accommodations across Durban. It has spent approximately R185 million on about five or six accommodations, including hotels throughout the city that are housing the displaced families since 2022. The department revealed this yesterday after approximately 189 individuals and 64 families who were being accommodated at the Bayside Hotel in Durban were evicted on Wednesday night due to non-payment for their accommodation. It was not immediately clear how much was owed at this one hotel and whether the families in the other accommodation facilities were also at risk. The department confirmed yesterday afternoon that new accommodation had been found for those evicted from the Bayside Hotel. Ndabe Sibiya, the spokesperson for the MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, said the MEC had urgently flown to Gauteng yesterday to meet with the National Minister of Human Settlements to resolve the eviction of flood victims from the Bayside Hotel due to delayed payments. 'There has been a breakthrough. The MEC met with Minister of Human Settlements Thembi Simelane and received guidance from the Minister of Finance. We wish to indicate that we have found a solution and the necessary approvals." Sibiya added that the department has already paid R185 million for self-catering and accommodation for 1,200 families in about five to six hotels across Durban, and now requires an additional R128 million. He detailed some of the challenges that the department has been alerted to regarding some individuals accommodated in private establishments. 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. 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. Advertisement 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. 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 ✕ He mentioned that they had been receiving complaints from owners of these establishments that some of the people are unruly and they do not want to accommodate them anymore. He added that the department had also conducted a verification process to ensure that the people benefiting are legitimate and had found that some individuals had been abusing the system. Furthermore, the government had built permanent houses for victims, but as soon as they moved to their new homes, others were sneaking into these rented accommodations. He said another challenge they are faced with is resistance from communities where land had been identified to build houses. 'We met with the Human Rights Commission last week and presented this matter. We could have built houses for some victims on identified state-owned land, such as in Shallcross and other areas, but communities there chased away contractors who were beginning to build. The reality is that the government cannot rebuild on unsuitable land that saw homes being washed away during floods,' Sibiya concluded. One of the evicted individuals told a TV news channel about their trauma. 'We have not been told what is happening. We were put in here, and today we were put out, and we are sleeping on the street. All we have been told is that we will be taken to a community hall. We are not told how long we will be staying in those community halls. It's not right that we could be moved from a house to a community hall.' The DA in eThekwini said in a statement that on Monday it will announce bold steps it is taking against the municipality following the displacement of flood victims and the overall collapse of the city. DA councillor Zamani Khuzwayo expressed deep concern about the eviction, calling it an inexcusable humanitarian failure. The DA blamed the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in the eThekwini Municipality for the crisis. In response, Themba Mvubu, the EFF chair of the Human Settlements Portfolio Committee in eThekwini, pushed back. He stated, 'These victims were booked into the hotel by the National Department of Human Settlements.' THE MERCURY
IOL News
10-07-2025
- Climate
- IOL News
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. 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. Advertisement 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. 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. Department spokesperson Ndabezinhle Sibiya has expressed concern over the safety of individuals resisting relocation, revealing that some have reported feelings of terror and have faced intimidation from peers discouraging them from moving. "It is unfortunate that there are individuals among the victims who mobilised against any move to Chesterville while we sort payments to the hotel," Sibiya stated. "We must prioritise their safety and comfort, especially in such trying times." The welfare of the children among these flood victims remains a significant concern. The harsh weather conditions endured by the displaced individuals during the night left many feeling abandoned and fearful, intensifying the urgent need for resolution. As part of ongoing efforts to address the situation, MEC Duma was set to meet with Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane in Gauteng to devise an immediate strategy. 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.
IOL News
10-07-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Department appeals to flood victims to accept temporary shelter assistance
STAFF REPORTER THE Transport and Human Settlements MEC in KwaZulu-Natal, Siboniso Duma, is urgently appealing to over 150 flood victims recently evicted from the Bayside Hotel in Durban's CBD to accept the temporary shelter offer from the department. The victims, who include women and young children, now find themselves stranded after the provincial department's failure to pay for their accommodation at the hotel. The department has so far allocated R185 million to provide temporary housing for over 1200 families, yet they now face an immediate need for an additional R128 million to ensure ongoing support. Following the eviction, tensions flared as some victims expressed their refusal to accept relocation to the Chesterville Community Hall, where officials claim adequate shelter is available. Reports indicate that a small group among the victims mobilised against the move, leading to an atmosphere of aggression and intimidation. Department spokesperson Ndabezinhle Sibiya addressed concerns regarding the safety of individuals refusing to leave, stating, "It is unfortunate that there are individuals among the victims who mobilised against any move to Chesterville while we sort payments to the hotel. There are terrified individuals who have informed us that they have been intimidated and forced not to move to Chesterville Community Hall." Sibiya expressed deep concern for the well-being of the children among these flood victims, who endured exposure to harsh weather conditions during the night and this morning. "We must prioritise their safety and comfort, especially in such trying times," he asserted. MEC Duma was expected to meet with Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane in Gauteng today to formulate an urgent plan to address the pressing situation. The department attributes the delay in payments to a commitment to avoid any potential audit findings related to irregular expenditures, according to Sibiya. A recent meeting with the Human Rights Commission underscored the gravity of the situation and the need for immediate solutions. A troubling aspect of the situation is the money already spent on temporary accommodation, which Sibiya acknowledged could have been directed towards building homes for the displaced flood victims. Unfortunately, efforts to build homes for the victims on state-owned land in Shallcross and other areas were thwarted, as contractors faced intimidation and were forced to abandon the projects due to community resistance. Many of the affected families previously resided in floodplains and unsuitable land, rendering rebuilding an unfeasible option. The Democratic Alliance (DA) has voiced strong criticism of the department's handling of the crisis, particularly regarding communication and support following the evictions at the Bayside Hotel. The party is demanding urgent intervention to alleviate the suffering of those affected. This marks the latest in a series of relocations for these flood victims, who have been moved multiple times since the disaster first struck. Their journey began at Bayview Community Hall, shifted to Impala Flats at South Beach, and later transitioned to the Bayside Hotel about four months ago. Many families hail from areas such as Umlazi, Lamontville, and Chatsworth. In March this year the community of Shallcross rejected a Department of Human Settlement's proposal to build houses for the flood victims in the area. The identified state-owned plot of land is of four that the government had earmarked to relocate those who lost their houses in the April 2022 floods. The Shallcross community said their resistance wasn't racially motivated but they needed the government to improve the infrastructure and fix other existing service delivery issues first before building new houses in the area.
The Citizen
10-07-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Video: Durban flood victims left in the cold after hotel eviction
Dozens of flood victims left homeless by February's devastating floods in Durban are facing a second night sleeping on the streets after being evicted from the Bayside Hotel on Dr Pixley KaSeme Street on Wednesday morning. The Witness reports the group, who were relocated from Lamontville and nearby areas after their homes and shacks were destroyed, say they were told they would remain at the hotel until permanent housing was built for them. Now, with no clear alternative accommodation offered, they say they have been abandoned by the very officials who made the promises. 'We slept in the open with our children because of broken promises made by the provincial government, the departments of transport and human settlements, and the eThekwini Metro,' said displaced resident Xoli Mbatha. 'Our human rights are being violated, and those senior officials who brought us here are nowhere to be seen now.' Mbatha said the Department of Human Settlements proposed relocating the group to the Chesterville community hall, but residents are refusing. 'We were once chased away from a community hall by the Chatsworth community. What guarantee do we have that it won't happen again? We want the houses we were promised,' she said. Government response On Thursday, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport and Human Settlements issued a detailed statement addressing the eviction. In the statement, MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, said: 'We plead with flood victims evicted from Bayside Hotel to allow eThekwini Municipality and the Department of Human Settlements to move them to Chesterville Community Hall as a temporary measure. It is unfortunate that there are individuals within the victims who mobilised against any move to Chesterville while we sort payments to the hotel. There are terrified individuals who have informed us that they have been intimidated and forced not to move to the Chesterville Community Hall. This is unacceptable in view of the fact that there are children who were exposed to this cold weather the whole night and this morning. Buses were arranged yesterday evening but some victims flatly refused to be moved. We will continue this morning to plead with them.' The department explained that delays in processing approvals to avoid irregular expenditure had contributed to the eviction. 'Delays caused by processes around obtaining approvals to avoid audit findings and irregular expenditure by the Auditor-General resulted in the unfortunate eviction of flood victims from the hotel. 'Yesterday [Wednesday], I flew out to Gauteng to meet with the Minister of Human Settlements, Thembi Simelane, to work out an urgent plan to turn around the situation. 'We have already paid R185 million to hotels and self-catering accommodation for flood victims. We need a further R128 million to accommodate 1,200 families,' said MEC Duma in the statement. The department also revealed that resettlement plans have been obstructed in the past. 'We could have built houses for some victims in identified state-owned land, such as in Shallcross and other areas, but communities there chased away contractors who were starting to build. 'During Nelson Mandela Month, we must promote Ubuntu. Resistance from some communities to resettlements of flood victims on government-owned land next to their properties — under what is called the 'Not in My Backyard' syndrome — must be eradicated. 'The reality is that government cannot rebuild on unsuitable land that saw homes being washed away during floods.' On the ground Several GNU political parties visited the site on Thursday to engage with residents. Portable toilets were delivered, and fruit was distributed. Humanitarian organisation Gift of the Givers also provided meals to the group on Thursday morning. As of Thursday evening, the residents said they had not received a clear solution, and were preparing for a second night outside. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
