Latest news with #TemporaryEmergencyAccommodation
IOL News
05-05-2025
- General
- IOL News
NHBRC to unveil critical report on structural integrity of mudslide-affected homes in Durban
Umlazi households to be relocated after devastating mudslides. Image: Supplied The National Builders Registration Council (NHBRC), an entity of the Department of Human Settlements, is expected to present its report on the structural integrity of all mudslide-affected houses in uMlazi, south of Durban. Department of Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane said in a statement on Thursday that the report and geotechnical assessments of the area, expected in the next two weeks, would help determine the intervention required. Noting the impact the recent rains have caused to several houses during her visit to the area earlier last week, Simelane directed the immediate evacuation of families whose houses had completely collapsed or had compromised structural integrity, thus posing a danger to occupants. The DHS minister said while they awaited the report, she was encouraged by the speed and efficiency with which the three spheres of government, National and KZN Department of Human Settlements and eThekwini Municipality have responded to her recent call to evacuate victims of mudslides at uMlazi, H Section. Over 50 families are being evacuated to Temporary Emergency Accommodation (TEA) as they have lost their houses. 'I am out of words to express our gratitude to families that opened their houses to accommodate affected families. This is who we are. We are a warm nation. A nation that extends a helping hand to those in need', Simelane said. The recent rains led to mudslides and the destruction of about 56 houses, which prompted the Minister to direct that the most affected families be relocated within 48 hours. As a long-term measure, the eThekwini Municipality and the Provincial Department of Human Settlements will identify a piece of land that will be utilised to accommodate the affected households with permanent settlement. At the beginning of April, a blaze ripped through New Rest-Egoli informal settlement in the Western Cape, leaving scores of people homeless. The Drakenstein Local Municipality has informed the National Department of Human Settlements that 200 informal structures might have been affected by the blaze. However, the currently compiled list of people who have come forward has a total of 360 structures that have been affected. This was being verified by the two spheres of government. At the end of March, the Eastern Cape Amatole District Municipality was hit by heavy storms which battered the area, leaving a tale of destruction to properties and infrastructure. This affected the three municipalities in the Amatole District, which include Great Kei, Raymond Mhlaba and Amahlathi Local Municipalities. According to a preliminary report from the deployed teams, there was a need to relocate families whose mud houses collapsed during storms to Temporary Residential Units (TRUs) and provide building materials for the communities to rebuild their destroyed structures. Marking three months as DHS Minister in March, Simelane pointed out that she had to respond to emergencies such as floods and fires in provinces such as the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. The department said this period has enabled the minister to fully understand the challenges faced by the sector. These include budget cuts, poor contract management leading to the abandonment of housing projects, allegations of fraud and corruption, a trust deficit between the department and its stakeholders, distressed social housing projects, and finding permanent solutions to the country's informal settlements. She said these challenges inform them that there is no silver bullet to resolve them.
IOL News
02-05-2025
- Climate
- IOL News
KZN's swift action: 144 residents evacuated from mudslide disaster in uMlazi
Residents whose homes were damaged after recent heavy rains caused mudslides in uMlazi H Section are being evacuated by the KZN Department of Transport and Human Settlements. Image: Supplied The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport and Human Settlements has evacuated 144 people whose homes were damaged after recent heavy rains caused severe mudslides in uMlazi H Section, south of Durban. Department spokesperson Ndabezinhle Sibiya stated that the team is collaborating with the ward committee to complete the evacuation of the remaining 72 residents. He noted that some of these individuals were currently at work, while others were temporarily residing with relatives. 'We continue with the verification process to ensure that nobody is left behind,' he said. This comes after six people were injured in P Section last week during the same storm as a result of mudslides. KZN Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi ordered that these affected residents in P Section be relocated and that an evaluation of the entire area should be conducted. This evaluation found that other houses in the vicinity had also been affected. On Wednesday, Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane, together with KZN Transport and Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma, visited uMlazi H Section to assess the damage caused to about 56 houses, also affected by mudslides. One of the houses that was damaged after recent heavy rains. Image: Supplied Based on what she had seen, Simelane said the relocation of these households would be the best solution. 'While the assessment is conducted, the immediate task is to relocate about 56 families to Temporary Emergency Accommodation (TEA),' said Simelane. The minister directed that the most affected families should be relocated within 48 hours. MEC Duma said the evacuation process would begin on Thursday. 'We wish to announce that today at 15h00, more than 200 community members will be evacuated.' According to Sibiya, evacuations continued from 11pm on Thursday to 2am on Friday. Sibiya said the department will monitor the evacuation on site and be with the community as they embark on this journey. Duma said he received a report at 3am on Friday and confirmed that evacuations would resume later that morning at 9am. In a progress report on Friday afternoon, Duma said that he has been interacting with Minister Simelane, informing her about the progress of the evacuation of 216 community members from H Section. He said 144 people, including children, had been evacuated and were being accommodated at Lagoon Centre in eManzimtoti The evacuated residents are being accommodated at the Lagoon Centre in eManzimtoti Image: Supplied Duma stated that on Thursday afternoon, the department inspected the self-catering accommodation facility and was satisfied with its condition. He said this facility will help these storm victims recover from the traumatic experience of living in collapsing houses. 'Working with eThekwini Municipality, meals such as breakfast and supper will be provided for 14 days starting from this weekend. After 14 days, food parcels will be provided to the families for self-catering purposes. One of the units at the at Lagoon Centre in eManzimtoti. Image: Supplied
