A flood victim in a community hall in Phoenix following the 2022 floods in KwaZulu-Natal. | Khaya Ngwenya/ Independent Newspapers
Durban — After waiting two years to be placed in proper shelters, scores of flood victims still stuck in squalid living conditions in temporary shelters said they were tired of empty promises.
This comes after KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli promised during the State of the Province Address last week that the provincial government was fast-tracking efforts to place more than 1 000 victims in proper housing.
Ntuli’s promise triggered a lukewarm reaction from the residents living in the Astra Building on Russell Street since the devastating floods of 2022.
Nosipho Ngcobo said: “In the build-up to the elections, the politicians were always here in our transit camp; now they are giving us speeches. We are tired of promises, we want action.”
The mother-of-three added: “I have no hope that our plight will ever change.”
In May, more than 300 victims marched to the Durban City Hall to demand better houses, claiming the temporary shelters were overcrowded and lacked privacy.
Among them was Mandla Sibisi, who led the victims.
Reacting to Ntuli’s vow, Sibisi, originally from Verulam but now stuck in the Astra Building, was equally doubtful of any changes.
“We have been here for two years, and all we have heard is a promise after a promise. To this day, we are still crammed here.”
The victims said their hope to be placed in better and proper houses remained a pipe dream despite years of desperate pleas that they claim have fallen on deaf ears.
Others in the temporary shelter in Lamontville also expressed doubt, but gave Ntuli the benefit of the doubt.
“We were dumped here in 2022 and no one has ever bothered to check up on us,” said Sibongile Ndungane, who lives in the Lamontville shelter with her two daughters.
Residents living in squalid conditions in Lamontville for 16 years said they hoped Ntuli would prioritise them. The Daily News visited the transit camp before the May 29 elections and found a pile of uncollected trash with a stench filling the air. The makeshift toilets did not work. The Daily News visited the camp again on Monday evening. The situation had barely changed; instead, it had deteriorated.
Others in the Mayville transit camp laughed off Ntuli’s promise. “Nothing will change,” said Gloria Ngubane. We are stuck here for life.”
Abahlali baseMjondolo, the shack dwellers’ movement, said: “We expect Premier Ntuli to protect his reputation by living up to his promises. He needs to be given fair time to prove KZN can count on him.”
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