QUESTIONS have been raised regarding the relocation of the flood victims who were displaced by the massive floods in 2022.

eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba announced last week that Montclair Lodge will house the first 500 residents in June, who are currently in temporary emergency accommodation. He also said other residents will move to Cornubia

The Department of Human Settlements had initially proposed December 2025 or January 2026 as the occupation date.

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Ward 64 councillor Norman Gilbert said the lodge was originally intended as a temporary shelter while the department and municipality sought a permanent solution.

“This contradicts what has been stated repeatedly. The mayor seems to be presenting a different narrative from what the municipality said last year when the lodge was identified as a temporary refuge for the victims. The infrastructure is not going to cope with the influx of people coming to Montclair. We are already grappling with fragile infrastructure in our ward.

“The people tried to occupy the lodge illegally, but they were not successful,” said Gilbert.

He emphasised that public consultations are crucial and that residents should have been informed about the flood victims moving into the lodge.

Also read: Displaced flood victims removed after illegally occupying Montclair lodge

Xaba was speaking during a recent visit at Cornubia Housing Development Project where more than 113 houses are under construction as part of over 1 200 units earmarked to accommodate flood victims.

“There is also a process underway to finalise the refurbishment of 500 units at Montclair Lodge. I am optimistic that by June this year, we will have more than 1 000 units available to accommodate people who are currently in temporary emergency accommodation,” said Xaba.

Department of Human Settlements announced last year that it bought the Montclair Lodge for R33m. The announcement raised community concerns as ratepayers’ associations argued that public consultations were never conducted with the residents.

The building is managed by Housing Development Agency on behalf of the KZN Department of Human Settlements.

Mayoral spokesperson Mluleki Mntungwa said in a statement the City will also construct more than 400 temporary residential units in the area to accommodate residents living in temporary emergency accommodation and transit camps, while construction at Cornubia continues.

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