Hundreds of families displaced by the devastating 2022 KwaZulu-Natal floods are once again being forced out of their temporary accommodations, raising concerns over the government’s handling of the crisis.
Last week, dozens of residents were evacuated from Bayside Apartments in Durban’s city center due to payment disputes. Now, families living at Weinmoore Court in Glenwood are facing a similar fate, with reports of water and electricity being cut off due to unpaid bills.
A Cycle of Displacement
Reporting from Weinmoore Court, highlighted the ongoing struggles of flood victims who were initially housed in community halls before being moved to temporary shelters. Many now find themselves back on the streets as lease agreements expire and funding issues persist.
Residents claim they are being shuffled between overcrowded and unsafe accommodations. One resident lamented, “We are being treated inhumanely—moved from place to place, forced to share spaces with strangers. We just want a permanent home.”
Government Blame Game
Tambu Vubu, chairperson of the Human Settlements Portfolio at eThekwini Municipality, explained that the responsibility for housing flood victims lies with provincial and national government, not the municipality.
“The Housing Development Agency (HDA), under the provincial government, secured these buildings through private leases,” Vubu said. “Now that funding has lapsed, landlords are evicting people. We are intervening, but we need funds from higher government spheres.”
Despite assurances from the provincial Human Settlements Department—which recently purchased a R33 million lodge to accommodate displaced families—evictions continue. Provincial officials have reportedly engaged with landlords to extend leases, but residents remain skeptical.
A Call for Permanent Solutions
With nightfall approaching, displaced families fear sleeping on the streets, as seen last week at Bayside Apartments. Vubu expressed confidence that an agreement would be reached to rehouse them temporarily, but residents demand long-term solutions.
The 2022 floods left over 4,000 people homeless, yet years later, many still lack stable housing. As evictions persist, pressure mounts on authorities to deliver on promises of safe and permanent relocation.
