'Forgotten by the government': Verulam flood victims' desperate plea for housing

More than two years after the devastating April 2022 floods, residents displaced in Verulam feel they have been forgotten by the government.

They claim they were promised permanent housing after the floods damaged their homes in the Thandanani area in Verulam but they are still waiting. They said they were moved to Jabulani Hall and all except one family were later relocated to a nearby transit camp. But all the residents say the living conditions are deteriorating, unsafe, and unfit for human habitation.

Phumzile Mkhize, 87, who is staying in a room on the community hall's premises, has lost faith in the government’s promises.

“During the day, I’m usually left alone because my daughter is at work and the children are at school. Anyone can come in and do whatever they want. I don’t want to stay here any more,” she said. “If I had the strength and money, I would have left long ago. This is not life.”

Mkhize recounted the horrific attack inside the hall where she was once housed. “A man we lived with walked in and attacked me. I tried to run, but I fell and he stabbed me. He stabbed my daughter and the security guard when they tried to help. Then he poured petrol over me and tried to set me alight, but the lighter jammed,” she said. “Men came here after that and promised to move me, but I never heard from them again.”

Sindi Mchunu, who now lives in a one-room shack at the transit camp, says the structures are unstable and uninhabitable. “They used cheap material, and the shacks flood every time it rains. I lost my 3-year-old during the floods. Now every storm triggers that trauma. We’ve had enough of empty promises,” she said. “We don’t even have proper electricity or water.”

Another flood victim, Neli Mchunu shares a cramped shack with her entire family. “There’s no privacy here. I have teenage girls and boys in one room. You can’t even change clothes. These walls are so thin, you can hear your neighbour breathe.”

Talent Buthelezi said the situation has worsened over time. “We’ve been forgotten. We don’t even get water or electricity. The camp is unfenced, allowing anyone to come and go. I had to send my child, who was writing matric, to live with relatives because our neighbour blasted loud music all night. Even the police had to get involved.”

Zamokuhle Mavuso said returning to where they used to live before the floods isn’t an option. “The land is not safe. We tried rebuilding there and got flooded again. We need new land. We can’t go back.”

Asked about these flood victims, the Ministry of Human Settlements denied that flood victims are currently housed at Jabulani Hall.

According to spokesperson Tsekiso Machike, “The Verulam victims were staying at Mount View Hall and were all relocated to rented flats in Russel Street, Durban, in November 2022.”

Machike acknowledged the delays in permanent resettlement, saying, “As the three spheres of government, we regret the delays and recognise the frustration. We identified land but encountered resistance from receiving communities who demanded housing too. This meant we would need over R1 billion, something we cannot afford.”

The department says it has earmarked Cornubia as the resettlement site, where over 1,000 flood victims are expected to benefit from a R600 million plan included in the 2025/2026 business plan.

“We appeal to affected families to bear with us. They are not forgotten. We are working to ensure they are housed permanently,” said Machike.

The eThekwini Municipality said it was important to clarify that only one family, consisting of five members, is currently residing in the community hall.

"The family in question was initially provided with building materials to rebuild their dwelling that was affected by the Aprill 2022 floods. The family was able to rebuild but due to a dispute with a neighbour, the family felt unsafe and relocated back to the hall. This dispute was beyond the municipality's control."

Regarding permanent housing, the City said a site to build a formal dwelling has been identified.

"The project manager is currently putting together an application for funding from KwaZulu-Natal Department of Human Settlements (KZNDHS) under the Operation Sukuma Sakhe (OSS) programme."

Asked about the residents' complaints regarding the conditions at the transit camp including dangerous wiring, unstable shack structures, and flooding, the the municipality said it was aware of the current state of all transit camps.

"There is no budget for maintenance and the available budget was re-prioritised to pay rental for over 1000 households that were affected by 2022 floods in various temporary emergency accommodation around the city. The Municipality continuously urges residents not to install dangerous wiring as it endangers lives. The Municipality also urges residents not to invade land and build informal settlements as this puts further strain on the city coffers.

Shortage of land

"Consequently, land has become a huge stumbling block to the City’s disaster intervention. Government also requires land that is about five kilometres from social amenities such as schools for flood victims as well as being situated close to economic opportunities and workplaces. There is a shortage of government-owned land in the City, as most available pockets of land are affected by the Durban Metropolitan OpenSpace System and others are situated in environmentally sensitive areas. Privately owned land parcels have cost implications and are scarce."

Democratic Alliance’s KZN spokesperson on Human Settlements, Riona Gokool, says government efforts to help flood victims have been insufficient and disorganised.

“I’ve visited these sites and seen the inhumane conditions families crammed together with no toilets, no bathing facilities, no cooking space,” she said.

Gokool said the DA has laid formal complaints with the SA Human Rights Commission and raised concerns in Parliament. “The department has no cohesive plan for disaster victims. There’s no live data system tracking who was affected, who qualifies for help, or who still needs housing. The right hand doesn’t know what the left is doing.”

The KZN Human Settlements department had not responded to a request for comment sent a few weeks ago. 

THE MERCURY

* This story was updated to include the eThekwini Municipality's comment.