KZN flood victims: DA calls for SAHRC update amid claims of inhumane conditions at temporary accommodation

6 March 2023

The DA has written to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) calling for an urgent update on the plight of KwaZulu-Natal’s flood victims.

The move comes after the DA has learned, via several media reports, that some flood victims moved from halls in December are still living under inhumane conditions in Temporary Emergency Accommodation (TEA’s).

The DA’s correspondence with the SAHRC also follows on from our initial request, in November last year, for their ongoing intervention over horrendous living conditions being experienced by this vulnerable group.

Last year, the DA consistently pushed for flood victims still living in halls to be housed in decent accommodation. At the time, KZN Human Settlements MEC, Nthuthuko Mahlaba, committed to ensuring that all flood victims were moved out of halls – and into TEA’s - by Christmas.

It now appears that they were moved into TEA’s – regardless of whether the conditions were suitable or not – simply so that the MEC could try to maintain his public image.

It is clear that this ANC-run government does not care about the plight of flood victims. Moving them from one horrendous situation to another does not show any compassion whatsoever.

The DA is also aware of reports which claim that some of the flood victims who are now occupying TEA’s were given letters stating that they would only be accommodated until December 2023. After this they would have to resolve their own housing challenges.

This is problematic given that the Department led us to believe that they would be moved to Temporary Emergency Accommodations (TEA's) and then into permanent housing.

The indecisiveness and lack of transparency by MEC Mahlaba and his Department has – and continues – to cause enormous additional stress to flood victims who have already endured so much.

It is unacceptable that KZN’s Human Settlements portfolio committee has not conducted any further oversight visits to community halls since the floods first took place.

The DA has today written to Chairperson Linda Hlongwa, to request that oversights be arranged and that they include visiting flood victims living in TEA’s. We have also called for the Department to provide a comprehensive update regarding challenges and the timeframes around flood victims being moved to permanent housing.

KZN’s ANC-run Human Settlements Department is notorious for housing projects that remain incomplete for years on end as a result of poor workmanship. Then there are the many citizens who have been kept waiting endlessly for title deeds or housing. During a recent stakeholder engagement in Bester, residents also revealed that some have not had their flood-damaged homes repaired since the 2019 floods.

This ANC-run government must act without delay to prioritise all flood victims and ensure that they are permanently housed. The DA will continue to hold them accountable and will fight on behalf of the most vulnerable members of our society.

Issued by Marlaine Nair, DA KZN Spokesperson on Human Settlements, 6 March 2023