In a significant move to optimise resource allocation since 2022’s devastating floods, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Human Settlements recently presented a detailed report to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), shedding light on the situation within the temporary emergency accommodations (TEAs) in eThekwini. 

KZN Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma revealed this during a media briefing on housing flood victims on Sunday. 

Duma said the report focused on verifying individuals and families accommodated in more than six TEAs across eThekwini since the 2022 floods.

He said the SAHRC agreed with the department on proper steps to manage the matter.

“We conducted this verification process in order to ensure that we do not incur irregular or fruitless expenditure. This is in line with the prescripts of the Auditor-General,” Duma said. 

“Our belief is that every cent should be saved and used to build permanent houses for the victims.” 

Duma said that during the verification process, they found that currently, 186 individuals do not qualify to live in TEAs. 

It was also found that some individuals have government-built RDP houses, and the government cannot build an RDP house twice. 

Duma stated that this is against government policy.

“Some individuals earn enough and above the stipulated amount of money to qualify for an RDP house. Therefore, they should not be accommodated in TEAs,” Duma said about another finding. 

He said some individuals claimed they did not have identification documents. Still, when the department offered to help in obtaining those documents through the Department of Home Affairs, they refused and disappeared. 

“We discovered that some individuals are foreign nationals, and others who have benefited from government-built houses have brought relatives to these TEAs,” Duma said. 

He added that living in TEAs is not viable for these individuals because they are connected to houses currently under construction by the department.

“We have asked individuals and families who do not qualify to seek alternative accommodation, as they will not be eligible for government-built houses in the future,” Duma said. 

He said prioritising housing for non-qualifying citizens is against policy, given the extensive list of qualifying citizens awaiting homes.

thobeka.ngema@inl.co.za

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