Residents living in mass care centres were relocated to temporary housing as part of government’s commitment to displaced residents.

GOVERNMENT kept its promise to relocate flood victims from mass care centres to safe housing before Christmas last year. And true to its word, with all spheres of government – including eThekwini Municipality- working together, the last families were rehomed on 23 December last year. 

Thousands of residents were displaced after their homes were destroyed in the floods last year. They were provided with
temporary accommodation at halls and mass care centres and were assured that they would be provided with temporary safe accommodation before Christmas. EThekwini Mayor Councillor Mxolisi Kaunda thanked the families for their patience
during a difficult year. “When we promised that no family would spend Christmas in a mass care centre there were many
sceptics. But we remained steadfast in our quest to restore dignity to flood victims. Today, we can proudly say we have
kept our promise,” said a beaming Mayor Kaunda. A total of 120 mass care centres, housing 8 541 families have been closed. 

Government’s programme to close mass care centres involved providing materials for families to rebuild, the extension of
transit camps, provision of transitional emergency accommodation, leasing of private buildings, acquiring private buildings, the use of government buildings, and the construction of temporary residential units. Mayor Kaunda lauded the strong leadership from various government spheres to deliver what some deemed “mission impossible”. “The successful relocation of flood victims is a great example of a caring government working together for the benefi t of communities. We are also grateful to officials who worked tirelessly to ensure that all families spent Christmas in family-friendly accommodation,” he said. Winnie Gumede, who was living in KwaNozaza Hall in Ntuzuma said she moved to the hall from KwaNgcolosi during the floods in April last year. “I lost everything during the floods, and life has been difficult. But today I am filled with gratitude because we are moving to decent accommodation in Reservoir Hills,” she said.