The government has made an undertaking that households affected during a tornado that ripped through Inanda, north-west of Durban will receive assistance to rebuild their homes.

This was announced during the government in-loco inspection, led by Minister of Human Settlements, Mmamoloko Kubayi, Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube, Executive Mayor of eThekwini Municipality, Cllr Mxolisi Kaunda, to assess the damage and identify immediate relief interventions to help the victims through a district development model approach.

Early this year, Minister Kubayi announced that the National Department of Human Settlements was taking over the implementation of the emergency housing programme. This was aimed at ensuring that government responds swiftly to disasters.

“We have assembled a team comprising all three spheres of government to make an assessment caused by the tornado. We have also witnessed it ourselves, some of the households are in desperate need of our intervention”, said Minister Kubayi.

“The assistance we intend to extend to the affected households includes providing them with building materials to rebuild their partially damaged houses and avail permanent solutions through Alternative Building Technologies (ABT) for households whose structures are completely destroyed”, added Minister Kubayi.

The visit to Inanda preceded a handover of houses to qualifying beneficiaries at the Kanku Road Housing Project which has a complement of over 300 houses. Most of the beneficiaries were relocated from various flood line areas or due to disasters in the eThekwini region.

“With this project, we are restoring the dignity of our people. We also accept that as a government, we still have a long way to go to deliver houses for all. However, we are working around the clock to ensure that government surely delivers on its set promises”, said Kubayi.

The new beneficiaries were also cautioned to resist temptation to sell their houses. “A house or shelter over your head restores your dignity. Look after what has been given to you and hand it over to your future generations”, concluded Kubayi.

Addressing community members at Kanku Road, Mayor Kaunda indicated that beneficiaries will be moved in batches from the Transitional Emergency Accommodation to their new houses. “One of our priorities is to eradicate informal settlements and transit camps in our city. We are making steady progress. As we do our part, please do yours”, said Kaunda.

Isipingo Transitional Emergency Accommodation should be a thing of the past. Do not reverse the gains we have made by rebuilding new structures or on a site we are clearing. This will be regarded as an enemy against progress and shall be addressed accordingly”, concluded Kaunda

Enquiries:

Nozipho Zulu, Head of Communication at 078 457 9376

Issued by the Ministry of Human Settlements

Govan Mbeki House

240 Justice Mahomed Street, Pretoria, 0001