Temporary homes being built for Umdoni flood victims
Members of the community are urged to exercise patience and understanding while the municipality undertakes all necessary rehabilitation of the damaged infrastructure.
Temporary units are being built for families who were sheltered in the Umzinto Town Hall and UCC Church in Malangeni under Umdoni Municipality, after heavy rains destroyed their homes recently.
Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi of the Department of Human Settlements confirmed this last week when she visited families housed at the UCC Church. Kubayi said the construction of the temporary units started on Saturday, April 23.
She added that families who are sheltered will be asked to show the department the location of their original homes so that the temporary units can be built there. “If the land is no longer suitable for the construction of another structure, we will have to move the family close by,” said Kubayi.
“These units will have a bedroom and a kitchen. The construction of temporary units is generally faster than that of RDP houses which can take between three to six months to build. In the case of moving families because the department can’t build in the spot where their homes were destroyed, we will not move them too far away because of the children and the schools they attend,” said Kubayi.
She added that the conditions the families are currently living under are not dignified because it lacks privacy, etc. She said that the department is planning to build RDP houses for the affected families at a later stage.
Meanwhile, Umdoni mayor Sibongile Khathi said over 200 rural roads and more than 50 urban roads have been confirmed to be either damaged or completely washed away. She added that an assessment done so far suggests that approximately R360 million will be required for rehabilitation.
“The municipality has commenced with remedial work to salvage the severely affected road network in the rural wards with the utilisation of internal resources. Further assessments in the urban and semi-urban wards are being conducted by engineers and the Department of Corporative Governance and Traditional Affairs,” said Kathi.
She added that the municipality applauds and appreciates the donations to the affected communities and the families of the deceased. “Those who reached deep into their pockets have illustrated the spirit of Ubuntu and we as Umdoni are truly grateful,” said Khathi.
Members of the community are urged to exercise patience and understanding while the municipality undertakes all necessary rehabilitation of the damaged infrastructure.
