Premier Sihle Zikalala says Government has faced challenges with building temporary housing for KZN flood victims. Photo: GCIS / Flickr
Where will KZN flood victims be able to rebuild their homes?
KZN Premier Sihle Zikalal provided some insight into Government’s response to the floods, including the issues faced with temporary housing.
Premier Sihle Zikalala says Government has faced challenges with building temporary housing for KZN flood victims. Photo: GCIS / Flickr
While Government has promised to build temporary homes to flood victims in KZN, progress has been slowed by the non-suitability of the land identified. KwaZulu-Natal premier Sihle Zikalala says service providers have been appointed to build 1 810 temporary units.
More than 70 temporary residential units have been built so far in KZN
So far, over 77 units have been built. Zikalala says these units are being erected in KwqaMakthutha, Inanda and Molweni. He added that the units will soon be handed over to beneficiaries.
While addressing the media in Durban, Zikalala said that out of 64 mass care centres, 21 are linked to possible land parcels. Approximately 25 land parcels from both the provincial and national Department of Public Works have been identified.
Zikalala addresses other aspects of flood damages in the province
Speaking about schools, Zikalala says Government worked hard to ensure that the 630 damaged schools were opened with temporary mobile classrooms provided.
ALSO READ: Child labour could be a reality for kids orphaned during KZN floods
Zikalala touched on other aspects of the damages from the floods in KZN. He said over 826 businesses had been affected. The cost to companies is around R7 billion. Over 100 electrical substations in eThekwini had also faced severe damages.
Zikalala explained that officials were working hard to restore the substation in Marian Ridge and the completion of fixing damages should be completed in two weeks.
Water is still a struggle in the flood-ravaged eThekwini
The water-treatment plant in oThongathi needs approximately R30 million to be fixed. This could take a few months.
“As an interim solution, the eThekwini metro has intensified the provision of additional water tankers and more static tanks will be added. There are also boreholes and packaged plants provided by NGOs,”
said Zikalala.
While there is still a challenge in some areas, water supply has improved in many areas in eThekwini. Zikalala says supply is between 75% and 80%. Around 199 water tankers have been deployed in the municipality.
Ntuzuma and surrounding areas are still a major challenge in terms of water supply. Zikalala says the supply has forced eThekwini Municipality to ration water. Currently, 188 water tankers are deployed in eThekwini, reports TimesLIVE.
