Latest news with #TransportandHumanSettlementsMEC
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. 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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
14-06-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Aircraft crash victim to be laid to rest in Nkandla
Aircraft crash victim to be laid to rest in Nkandla One of the victims of this week's light aircraft crash in the KZN Midlands will be laid to rest on Monday in Nkandla. ALSO READ: Search for missing aircraft ends in tragedy Siphesihle Buthelezi (20), a medical student, was among the two pilots who lost their lives when the aircraft disappeared on Sunday after departing from Virginia Airport in Durban North. ALSO READ: Condolences extended to KZN light aircraft crash victims' families Transport and Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma remarked, 'We must continue to pray and support the family of Siphesihle. 'He was a promising young star. He will be deeply missed.' Don't have the ZO app? Download it to your Android or Apple device here: HAVE YOUR SAY Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter. For news straight to your phone invite us: WhatsApp – 060 784 2695 Instagram – zululand_observer At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The South African
09-06-2025
- The South African
Three killed in light aircraft crash in KZN
On Sunday it came to light that authorities were searching for a 'missing' light aircraft that had departed from Durban's Virginia Airport on Sunday. Rescuers have now found the wreckage, and all three occupants deceased – including a student pilot – with the plane appearing to have crashed into sugar cane fields. The aircraft was last tracked flying over Ladysmith, heading south towards either Pietermaritzburg or Greytown. The provincial Transport and Human Settlements MEC, Siboniso Duma, confirmed the department is working with the Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre on the matter 'ARCC informed us that they will be handing over the matter to the South African Police Service's (SAPS) Accident and Incident Investigation Division and the South African Civil Aviation Authority for the official investigation. 'We express our deepest condolences to the families of the deceased passengers,' Duma said. Authorities are currently continuing to investigate the cause of the crash. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
