EThekwini Deputy Mayor Councillor Zandile Myeni recently visited the Kennedy Road Informal Settlement that was ravaged by fire a few weeks ago.

 ETHEKWINI Deputy Mayor Councillor Zandile Myeni, together with the MEC of Social Development Nohlanhla Khoza, paid a visit to residents from the Kennedy Road Informal Settlement. Their visit comes after the informal settlement was ravaged by fire a few weeks ago.

Affected families were handed grocery vouchers of R2 080 per family. The grocery vouchers enables residents to buy supplies from the supermarket. The voucher excludes the purchase of alcohol and cigarettes and is not transferrable. Families also received mattresses, blankets, and toiletries. Since the fire, the Department of Social Development has been providing three meals a day for the community and has spent about R4 million to provide aid thus far.

MEC Khoza said her department was working to supply school uniforms for children whose homes were destroyed. She warned against the public registering themselves as being affected residents when they were not. Kennedy Road Informal Settlements residents were also urged not to build homes near each other as emergency vehicles cannot reach them if there was a problem. Councillor Myeni thanked the provincial government for its support as well as donations from businesses and non-governmental organisations that have been received. She conveyed her appreciation to humanitarian organisations for always providing assistance in difficult times. She appealed for patience from affected residents while the City sought a permanent solution for housing in the area.