Mayor fast-tracks housing for displaced flood victims

 

Mayor fast-tracks housing for displaced flood victims

METRO REPORTER

ETHEKWINI Mayor Councillor Cyril Xaba has expressed confidence in the City’s plan to provide decent housing for flood victims.

This follows his oversight visit to Montclair Lodge on 5 March, to assess progress of the refurbishment of the facility, which will temporarily accommodate disaster victims.

The project is being implemented jointly by eThekwini Municipality, as well as the provincial and national government. Mayor Xaba said he was satisfied with the progress made in refurbishing the first 272 units. In total, the project will deliver 500 units.

‘’The completion of this project is crucial, as it will provide government with its own facility to accommodate disaster victims instead of relying on privately-owned facilities. Each time we have disasters, we will know where to take victims to while awaiting permanent housing,’’ said Mayor Xaba.

The refurbishment project is expected to be completed by June this year. The first occupants of the lodge will be flood victims currently accommodated in temporary emergency accommodation. They will be housed there temporarily while awaiting the completion of permanent houses in the Cornubia Housing Project.

The Mayor last month visited the Cornubia Housing Project to assess progress of the construction of permanent housing for flood victims.

Already, 113 houses are nearing completion. The total yield of the project is 1 200 units, which will be able to accommodate all flood victims currently in temporary emergency accommodation.