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The chaos and upheaval surrounding the relocation of Truro Hall flood victims to Ward 28 in Msunduzi is gravely concerning. This after a disturbing showdown took place yesterday, exposing the growing tensions between municipal officials, community members and the flood victims.

The incident, which took place on South Road, comes after ongoing turmoil, exacerbated after municipal officials allegedly fetched flood victims and brought them to the proposed accommodation site despite knowing the tense situation.

Yesterday’s incident was a frightening display of anger, bordering on violence.  At the heart of the matter lies this Department’s decision not to conduct earlier stakeholder engagements and community consultation before relocating flood victims. Adding fuel to the fire is the Deputy-Mayor’s attempts to fast-track the relocation without proper community engagement.

Truro Hall flood victims have been living under appalling conditions in mass care centres for almost eight months. They are emotional and vulnerable and should not have to endure further suffering.

The DA now calls on KZN Human Settlements MEC, Ntuthuko Mahlaba to invite all relevant stakeholders to a meeting of consultation and mediation in order to find an amicable way forward so that flood victims could be housed with dignity without any further delay.

According to a report presented to KZN’s Human settlements portfolio committee in October, these flood victims were to have been given temporary housing in July. This has been delayed due to opposition by communities where they were due to be relocated to. Had proper consultation taken place, these and other flood victims would more than likely be safely housed by now.

Of further concern to the DA is that the October report indicated that there were only eight families living in Truro Hall while waiting to be housed. Today, that number has almost tripled. This is very worrying as the temporary housing plans are solely for flood victims.

The DA has emphasised that residents should not be allowed to use the floods as an excuse to jump the queue for housing given that thousands of people have been waiting for housing for years.

The DA welcomes the MECs commitment to ensuring that all flood victims are moved from mass care centres – and into Temporary Residential Units (TRUs) or Temporary Emergency Accommodation (TEAs) - by Christmas. We will hold him to this promise.

In the interim, we expect MEC Mahlaba to urgently intervene to bring about peace and stability between the residents of Ward 28 and Truro Hall flood victims. This impasse must be swiftly resolved with compassion for all involved.

Issued by Marlaine Nair, MPL and Hannah Winckler, MP -