Elation as 20 flood-displaced families receive new homes

 

SIMPHIWE DLAMINI

TEARS of joy flowed when 66-year-old pensioner Bhekile Mlambo received the keys to her brand-new home from the Minister of Human Settlements Thembi Simelane, MEC of Human Settlements Siboniso Duma and eThekwini Speaker Councillor Thabani Nyawose.

Mlambo was among 20 families who officially took occupation of permanent houses in the Illovo Housing Project during a house handover ceremony in Illovo, South of Durban recently. All the beneficiaries were displaced during the 2022 flood disasters, which left hundreds of people homeless across KwaZulu-Natal. The Illovo Housing Project, with an allocated budget of R9 million, has seen R2 million spent on 13 units. A total of 37 sites have been earmarked for development.

The house handover also signaled the closure of the Adams and Ilfracombe Transitional Emergency Accommodation, where these families had been living since the floods displaced them.

Minister Simelane said the project marks a turning point in government’s commitment to restore dignity to affected families. ‘’This project is important as the beneficiaries come from a place of devastation and deep pain. Through collaborative work with councillors, community leaders, and officials, we ensured that beneficiaries from the disaster, as well as local housing applicants from Illovo, were accommodated fairly in line with our housing allocation system,’’ said Minister Simelane. She further explained that the Illovo initiative forms part of a broader human settlements programme responding to the 2022 floods, with a total of 1 140 permanent houses under construction across eThekwini.

The remaining families will be housed at the Montclair Lodge and Cornubia Temporary Residential Units between December 2025 and January 2026, while awaiting completion of their permanent homes by June 2027. Minister Simelane emphasised that the Department is working to close temporary shelters. ‘’The tears of relief we witnessed today are a reminder that government must accelerate delivery,’’ she said.

KEY HOUSING INTERVENTIONS INCLUDE:

·         20 families now settled in permanent homes at Illovo (August 2025).

·         1 200 houses currently being built in Cornubia (construction commenced in August 2025).

·         113 families set to occupy their Cornubia homes by December 2025.

·         692 flood victims scheduled to receive homes in Cornubia by December 2026.