South Africa: The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Human Settlements, under the leadership of MEC for Human Settlements and Public Works, Dr Ntuthuko Mahlaba, today, Thursday, 09 March 2023, hosted the last MINMEC of the quarter of the 2022/2023 financial year.
Minister of Human Settlements Mmamoloko Kubayi and Deputy Minister Pam Tshwete, and eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Cllr Mxolisi Kaunda joined MEC Dr Mahlaba in hosting the MECs for Human Settlements from the other eight provinces.
Prior to the commencement of the formal proceedings of the MINMEC at the iNkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban, the Human Settlements Minister and her Deputy Minister, together with the nine MECs, conducted an inspection visit to three different Projects, which included a Transitional Emergency Accommodation (TEA) facility in Reservoir Hills housing last year April floods displace who until December before Christmas had been staying in Mass Care Centres.
The Ministerial entourage interacted with flood displaces, who in turn reciprocated by thanking Government for addressing their dire plight by providing decent, dignified shelter in the form of the TEA.
The entourage also proceeded to Klaarwater Township outside Pinetown, west of Durban, where they also did an inspection visit to a settlement of Temporary Residential Units (TRUs) where another group of seven April flood displaces are presently accommodated as they wait for the completion of their houses as part of the permanent housing solution including for those living in TEA facilities.
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Human Settlements has identified several land parcels in and around eThekwini for the construction of houses for the flood displaces. Among the objectives of the inspection visits to the two sites was to expose Human Settlement MECs from other Provinces on how to respond expeditiously during times of disaster and emergency.
The last stop for the entourage was the visit to the Kanku Road Housing Project in Isiphingo, south of Durban, in Ward 90. The project consisting of more than 360 units, will benefit the same number of beneficiaries who are currently living at the Isiphingo oLindela after they had been relocated from Umlazi Township to improve football stadia facilities ahead of the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
Minister Kubayi and her delegation of MECs were very impressed at the work that had been done to restore the dignity of the people living in oLindela in Isiphingo with the intervention through the Kanku Road Housing Project.
She further said she would invite President Cyril Ramaphosa in April to officiate at the relocation of the 360-odd families from the nearby oLindela to the Kanku Road Housing Project.
The delegation then went back to the ICC to deliberate, among other issues that include the performance of the sector in the delivery of housing units, including how Provinces have used their budget allocations in the current financial year and review of the Subsidy Quantum, Specification and Qualifying criteria.
