Wednesday, November 26, 2025
Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane has dispatched a team from the national department responsible for emergency housing to work with KwaZulu-Natal officials to assist households affected by recent heavy rains at Umshwathi Local Municipality.
According to the preliminary assessment, about 400 people, including close to 200 children and 163 females, have been affected.
“The team is currently conducting a full assessment, which will determine the required intervention. There are four categories of emergency housing interventions provided by the department, namely, restoration, relocation, rebuilding and repairs.
“Should there be a need for the relocation of the affected households, the municipality will have to identify a piece of land that will be suitable for human settlement,” Simelane said in statement.
The Minister and the department has also conveyed condolences to the family of the deceased, who was swept away during the heavy rains.
The body of a woman whose body was recovered from Injasuthi River in New Hanover under uMshwathi Municipality on Monday. The body was one of the three victims that were swept away.
“These are difficult times for our sector. We appeal to our communities to be vigilant, exercise caution and refrain from building structures on flood lines or areas prone to floods,” Simelane said.
KwaZulu-Natal Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi, visited flood-affected areas in uMshwathi today on Tuesday to assess damage and provide relief to the affected families.
Buthelezi called on the municipalities across the province to enforce bylaws preventing people to build houses without permission. – SAnews.gov.za
