eThekwini fast-tracks housing for families displaced by floods

MORE than 1 000 housing units are expected to be available by June for residents displaced by floods, as eThekwini Municipality accelerates delivery at the Cornubia Housing Development Project.

Mayor Cyril Xaba said the City was intensifying efforts to move families out of temporary emergency accommodation and into permanent homes.

“There is also a process underway to finalise the refurbishment of 500 units at Montclair Lodge. I am optimistic that by June this year, we will have more than 1 000 units available to accommodate people who are currently in temporary emergency accommodation,” said Xaba.

His remarks follow a recent oversight visit to Cornubia, where more than 113 houses are currently under construction as part of over 1 200 units earmarked to accommodate flood victims.

Of these, 103 units are expected to be completed by the end of March, with the remaining units scheduled for completion in the next financial year.

While construction continues, the City plans to build more than 400 Temporary Residential Units (TRUs) in the area to accommodate residents currently living in Temporary Emergency Accommodation sites and transit camps.

Mayor Xaba said the project would significantly ease the burden on displaced families.

“I am encouraged by the progress we have seen at Cornubia. This development will go a long way in restoring dignity to residents who have endured extremely difficult circumstances following the floods,” he said.

Municipal teams are also fast-tracking the connection of completed units to water, sanitation and electricity services to ensure beneficiaries can occupy them without delay.

The Cornubia Housing Development has a total projected yield of 25 000 units once fully developed, making it one of the City’s largest integrated human settlements projects. In addition to housing flood victims, it provides social rental housing, RDP houses and units for first home finance-linked subsidy beneficiaries.

As part of the infrastructure upgrade programme, the municipality is constructing road infrastructure to support the integrated public transport network in the area.

Other social amenities developed in line with government’s sustainable human settlements programme include a school, community hall, trading stalls, sports facilities and a clinic.

“We are not only building houses, but sustainable communities with access to services and economic opportunities,” Xaba said.