Durban - The DA has called on the provincial Human Settlements department in KwaZulu-Natal and its MEC Ntuthuko Mahlaba, to move with urgency in relocating the flood victims living in the Truro Hall under the Msunduzi Municipality.
The opposition party said during a recent oversight visit and engagement with the flood victims, it found that the flood victims are living in inhumane, unsanitary conditions due to a sewer overflow in the yard.
DA Member of the Provincial Legislature (MPL) and spokesperson on Human Settlements Marlaine Nair said the flood victims are frustrated.
“The DA is concerned that if these vulnerable flood victims are relocated to a site that has not been approved for construction and is unsafe, their lives would once again be put at risk, come the next heavy downpour. It is vital that all correct procedures are followed, and regulations adhered to when relocating flood victims,” said Nair.
The MPL said the DA was concerned that the department had a budget of R106 million, but had only used R18m to assist flood victims.
“These flood victims should not have to suffer any longer, when there is available budget and options to safely house them as soon as possible. We are calling on MEC Mahlaba to make good on his promise to have all flood victims out of mass care centres by Christmas, by starting with Msunduzi’s Truro Hall flood victims,” she said.
Last week during a briefing, KZN Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube made an undertaking to close all mass care centres within seven days and relocate all flood victims to new accommodation before Christmas.
Human Settlements department spokesperson Mlungisi Khumalo described the DA statement as unfortunate and lacking substance.
He said that the department remained committed to move the flood victims as soon as possible, and appealed to the DA to refrain from using the flood victim’s plight to score cheap political points.
“This is not the time!”, the spokesperson said.