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First and foremost, we wish to acknowledge commitments of all leaders of political parties serving in eThekwini Municipality  towards ensuring solid service delivery during this critical period and beyond.

In particular, we note the strong working relations between the leadership of the African National Congress in the region and Africa Batho Congress leader and Deputy Mayor Cllr Philani  Mavundla.

As it was stated by the ANC regional leadership on Tuesday, a coalition government will always have teething problems but it was assuring to learn and hear a solid commitment from the leadership on the strengthening this partnership in the interests of residents of eThekwini.

We must hasten to point out that all categories of staff in both the Department of Human Settlements and Public Works understand that they have a responsibility to work with all leaders of political parties. They understand that leaders of political inside and outside the legislature and municipal councils - represent the aspirations of those who voted for their parties of their choice. We offer not to deviate from this principle.

In addition, we wish to assure the people of eThekwini that speed, efficiency and integrity will remain the hallmark of our work during this term of office.

Since we experienced severe weather patterns, that resulted in the destruction of homes and other social infrastructure, workers from the departments I am leading are working closely with municipal workers in eThekwini Municipality and other municipalities. This work is augmented by Operation Sukuma Sakhe War Rooms and councillors on the ground. We continue to receive updates on the requests for temporary residential units and permanent houses for the affected families.

The work of constructing residential units have started in Ilembe, Ugu, Mzinyathi and eThekwini.

Regarding Mavundla’s statement, it should be remembered that on the 20th April 2022, a meeting was convened by the National Minister of Human Settlements Mammoloko Kubayi to discuss relief interventions – especially the construction of temporary residential units, permanent houses and the rollout of human settlements in eThekwini in general.

This meeting was attended by myself, Deputy Mayor Philani Mavundla, Speaker of eThekwini Thabani Nyawose, Head of Department of Human Settlements Mdu Zungu, Acting City of Durban Musa Mbele, City of Durban Chief Financial Officer Sandile Mnguni, Deputy City Manager - Human Settlements, Engineering and Transport Authority at eThekwini Municipality Ms Beryl Mphakathi-Khanyile and other senior officials representing three spheres of government.

The following issues were discussed in the meeting after a presentation by the Minister  Kubayi with all political leaders agreeing that leadership responsible for administration must ensure speed, efficiency and adherence to good governance practices:-

1. In order to ensure immediate response, funding has been reprioritised in line with Section 6 (a) of Division of Revenue Act, 2022. This has allowed that the human settlements grants – R1, 2 billion be reprioritised to alleviate the impact of the disaster;

2. To put this into effect, a revised cashflows was submitted to National Treasury on 14 April 2022 and positive response was received.

3. This allowed an amount of approximately R1bn to flow to the Province from the National Department of Human Settlements.

4. For the 2021/22 financial year, eThekwini has two sources of funding it can immediately tap into, namely, the amount of R539 143 from Urban Settlement Development Grant (USDG) and an additional amount of R143m that was recently allocated to Informal Settlements Upgrade Partnership Grant (ISUPG). 

Critically, it was agreed that eThekwini Municipality should urgently reprioritize these amounts to address the current disaster. It was further agreed that a meeting of the council be convened to adopt a resolution on the reprioritization in line with the Municipal Finance Management Act.

Respectfully and without pointing fingers, as the Department of Human Settlements and Public Works, we commit to continue to work with eThekwini Municipality and all other municipalities affected by disaster.

The meeting of the 20th April 2022 was characterized by the spirit of working together to turn around the situation.

On the same day, all leaders mentioned above also met with the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Patria De Lille.

In this meeting a report was presented pointing out that all spheres of government had identified more than 17 000 Hectares of land that we will use to build houses. 

We can indicate that to date the Provincial Department of Human Settlements is working with Housing Development Agency as part of mapping out more pieces of land to build houses for destitute families including those who will be relocated from River Banks.

KZN Government identified the following properties:-

1. Department of Human Settlements – 3815

2. Department of Public Woks – 103

Critically, the meeting welcomed a comment from Deputy Mayor Cllr Philani Mavundla that some delipidated buildings and those that have been hijacked in eThekwini Central Business District be converted into a Social Housing Unit. All parties agreed to pursue this matter as part of a long lasting solution to the issue of access to decent housing for all.

It should be remembered that on the 24th March 2022, the Department of Human Settlements and Public Works hosted a Social Housing Workshop which was attended by municipalities including eThekwini. In this workshop, delegates and officials committed to ensuring that government owned buildings in the CBD and dilapidated buildings be converted into flats to ensure the provision affordable housing for the poorest of the poor.

Within the context of the transformation of the property, it was resolved that all spheres of government must work together to fast track the accreditation of emerging entrepreneurs as Social Housing Institutes (SHIs). We are targeting women and the youth as part of increasing the number across the province. We have many buildings across Durban and Pietermaritzburg that could be refurbished and converted into rented family units by these SHIs .

In conclusion, we remain committed to working with eThekwini Municipality and all other municipalities in the interests of residents who need houses. We acknowledge and appreciate the hard work by Cllr Philani Mavundla in his capacity as Deputy Mayor in eThekwini Municipality. 

We will work with him and all other mayors to put to an end an unfortunate situation wherein housing projects take between 5 to 10 years to be completed.

We remain committed to restore the dignity of a mother or a father who, because of historical economic exclusion, remains a low income earner with no hope of a better salary.

We are strengthening co-operative government and we are building relationships and partnerships with municipal leaders through various forums for co-operation and co-ordination. 

We commit to have ongoing interaction with traditional Leaders and religious leaders to fast-track social and rural housing programmes.

Issued by the MEC for Human Settlements and Public Works Jomo Sibiya