THE MEC for the KZN Department of Human Settlements Siboniso Duma has reiterated the department’s stance that the remaining batch of the flood victims will be housed at the Montclair Lodge and Cornubia’s temporary residential units from December 2025 to January 2026 while waiting for the completion of their permanent houses by latest June 2027.

Also read: Montclair residents oppose relocation of flood victims

Duma’s confirmation comes amid public outcry over the relocation of flood victims to Montclair Lodge, with residents expressing concern about the strain this will place on the area’s already deteriorating municipal infrastructure.

Duma was speaking at the handing over function of houses for flood victims in Copesville, Pietermaritzburg, last week.

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A total of 1200 houses will be built in Cornubia for flood victims while 113 families will take occupation of their permanent houses at Cornubia in December.

Another 692 flood victims will take occupation of their permanent houses at Cornubia by December next year.

The department said all privately owned Transitional Emergency Accommodations (TEAs) will be closed on or before December 31, 2026.

In a community meeting held in Montclair on August 18 with KZN MEC for Public Works Martin Meyer and the leadership of the DA, residents raised concerns about the relocation process of the flood victims.

Deputy provincial leader for the DA Sithembiso Ngema said the meeting was a feedback session to the community’s concerns.

Ngema said the main objective of the meeting was to iron out community concerns and he addressed the issues that arose following the department’s announcement to buy the lodge at a tune of R33m.

Also read: R33m Montclair Lodge deal sparks concerns over infrastructure

“The lodge will accommodate the flood victims temporarily while the government is looking for a suitable place to keep them. The Montclair Lodge is going to be used as a temporal shelter, and the flood victims will not occupy the building permanently.

“The department was paying rent for the buildings where the flood victims were temporarily housed in Durban. There were also questions raised about potential job opportunities once the rebuilding of the lodge begins. We made it clear that such matters fall under the jurisdiction of the department,” said Ngema.

He stressed the importance of ensuring that all processes are conducted legally and transparently to prevent any irregularities during the relocation.

“We call on the MEC for Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, to hold a public meeting with Montclair residents to address any outstanding concerns they may have regarding the lodge. The MEC should have engaged the community before the department made its announcement,” Ngema added.

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