By Jacobs Botha,
South Africa’s Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane has deployed a national emergency housing team to KwaZulu-Natal following recent floods that affected hundreds of households in Umshwathi Local Municipality. The move comes after heavy rainfall triggered severe flooding in parts of the province.
A preliminary assessment shows that about 400 people were affected, including nearly 200 children and 163 women, after intense storms and rising water levels swept through the area.
The ministry said the deployed team is conducting a full assessment that will determine the appropriate emergency housing intervention. The department offers four categories of support in disaster situations: restoration, relocation, rebuilding and repairs.
Simelane explained that if relocation is required, the municipality will need to identify suitable land for temporary or permanent settlement.
The Minister and the department also conveyed condolences to the family of a woman whose body was recovered from the Injasuthi River in New Hanover on Monday. She was one of three people swept away during the KwaZulu-Natal floods.
“These are difficult times for our sector. We appeal to communities to remain vigilant, exercise caution and avoid building structures on flood lines or in areas prone to flooding,” Simelane said.
KwaZulu-Natal Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi visited the flood-affected areas in Umshwathi on Tuesday to assess the damage and provide relief to displaced families. He called on municipalities across the province to enforce bylaws preventing the construction of homes without approval, especially in high-risk zones.
