Inkosi Mhlabunzima Maphumulo House: We wish to inform the people of KwaZulu-Natal, especially victims of the floods of April 2022, that we are making progress regarding the building of their permanent houses.
There are 1069 families currently staying in ten hotels and rented facilities known as Transitional Emergency Accommodations.
This includes the additional 41 families that were displaced due to the recent February floods in Lamontville.
Seven land parcels have now been rezoned for the building of permanent houses.
We are currently speeding up the provision of bulk infrastructure (water and electricity) in order to ensure that we build decent houses.
We are also having fruitful engagements with the Shallcross Rate Payers Association to ensure that we resolve the tension over the relocation to the area of flood victims.
In KZN, we need to eradicate, collectively, the “Not in My Backyard Syndrome”. This attitude has no place in a democratic society built on a strong foundation of the Rainbow Nation and the Spirit of Ubuntu
In the meeting held recently with Shallcross Ratepayers Association, and chaired by the newly appointed Head of Department Max Mbili, we agreed on the following:-
- eThekwini Municipality Mayor Cllr Cyril Xaba and myself will convene a Shallcross service delivery imbizo to address all community service delivery concerns which have nothing to do with the proposed development;
- Recreational space will still be made available for the community of Shallcross;
- Province / Ethekwini Municipality is able to allocate 10% of the houses to the Beneficiaries from the Shallcross community
- People of Shallcross will participate in the development through subcontracting and general labour employment during the construction phase.
- HoD will ensure continuous liaison with the Shallcross Ratepayers Association and community;
We also wish to indicate that through the guidance of Isilo Misuzulu KaZwelithini, we are working with Amakhosi to utilize the land under Ingonyama Trust for the benefit of His Majesty’s people.
We have already met with Inkosi Mqoqi Ngcobo of Amaqadi. He has identified land to be used to build houses for the flood victims.
We are also planning meetings with Amakhosi in eThekwini Municipality as part of an effort to identify suitable land.
Also, we will have a series of Izimbizo throughout 11 district municipalities as part of working with Amakhosi, religious leaders, municipalities, leaders of society and the community at large to deal with the issue of building houses for the people.
We will also address all challenges around the impact of Climate Change and ensure that communities do not build on riverbanks, wetlands and other areas deemed unsuitable for habitation.
