The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) has approved the free-of-charge release of four parcels of land for human settlements developments and accommodation for households that were affected by severe flooding in KwaZulu-Natal in April.

The four land parcels will be handed over to the Housing Development Agency (HDA) for the sole purpose of resettling communities displaced by the flooding, while the DPWI is processing a fifth land parcel for release within the next two weeks.

The five land parcels are located in the subregions of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality, with access roads to the properties being in “good condition”, the DPWI reports.

After consideration of various factors, it was recommended that the five properties be released as they were deemed feasible for fully integrated human settlements.

Following the transfer of the land, the HDA, together with the eThekwini and provincial governments, will be responsible for the development of the properties to accommodate displaced communities.

“We will continue to provide support in KwaZulu-Natal in any way we can in terms of our mandate and work with all spheres of government to ensure we restore KwaZulu-Natal and help the many households in need.

“We look forward to returning to the province later this year to hand over completed bridges to communities in need and ensure that they have proper and decent access to places of work, school, hospitals and clinics and other amenities,” Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Patricia De Lille says.

De Lille and Deputy Minister Noxolo Kiviet visited the sites earlier this month to inspect the work done by the department to repair flood-damaged State-owned buildings in KwaZulu-Natal.

“Work on the repairs to State-owned properties has progressed well and is almost 100% complete, while work will start in earnest on the rural bridges in the coming weeks,” says De Lille.