NO ONE from eThekwini Municipality was aware of the Department of Human Settlements’ minister Thembi Simelane’s decision to relocate flood victims from Umlazi to a building in Amanzimtoti’s CBD recently. This has sparked mixed reactions, with some community members expressing frustration over the lack of prior notice.

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Late April saw a devastating mudslide destroy 56 homes in Umlazi’s H section, leaving 144 residents homeless. Simelane visited the area on April 30 and, after assessing the damage, directed that the most severely affected families be relocated within 48 hours to the Lagoon Centre building.

She said it was a temporary measure while land where permanent housing can be developed for the displaced households is sought.

The move was funded through the R76m disaster management fund that was allocated by Treasury earlier this year to assist flood victims in the province.

More concerns were expressed by the community after it was revealed that the building had been deemed unfit to house people.

Ward 97 councillor André Beetge, who was also caught off guard by the relocation, said the building’s zoning from commercial to residential was approved in 2019, after which it was used as a student residence. After its plans were altered without approval, eThekwini served a deviation notice, and the students moved out in 2021, leaving the building vacant since.

The minister appealed for compassion from the Amanzimtoti community, urging residents to welcome the flood victims and resist using the crisis to further personal agendas.

“Our duty is to house the nation. The decisions we make are guided by the information at hand. Policy and law require us to prioritise the most vulnerable,” she said.

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