Companies appointed to build temporary homes in KZN

• Published date: 19 May 2022
• Publication title: South African Official News

As the work to repair and rebuild infrastructure damaged by floods in KwaZulu-Natal gets underway, service providers have been appointed to construct 1 810 temporary residential units (TRUs) across the province.

Giving a progress report on support for affected families, and measures to rebuild the province and grow the economy, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala said to date, 77 of the 1 810 TRUs are complete.

However, he noted that progress is slowed by the suitability of land, as rebuilding cannot take place in the same communities that were flooded.

'Units are being constructed in Molweni, KwaMakhutha and Inanda. These will soon be handed over to beneficiaries,' Zikalala said.

On identifying land, Zikalala said out of 64 mass care centres, 21 have been 'linked with a possible land parcel (sic)'.

He said at least 25 land parcels from the national Department of Public Works and the provincial Department of Public Works, have been identified, with a total of 49 hectares.

'Detailed assessments [are] currently underway on the 25 recommended properties. The South African National Defence Force is [rolling out] bailey bridges, while the KZN Department of Transport is leading a massive project called 'Valamapotholes' (fixing potholes), working together with municipalities,' Zikalala said.

The Premier also assured that the 630 schools that were damaged have since all been opened and functioning, with temporary mobile classes provided.

Substantial progress in restoring water supply

While acknowledging that there are still water supply challenges in some areas, the Premier said there is substantial progress in restoring water supply, where infrastructure was severely damaged.

He said water supply has improved by 75-80% in most of the areas in eThekwini, where major disruption occurred.

He also announced that major repairs in the oThongathi area are expected to take a few months, at an estimated cost of R30 million, according to eThekwini Metro engineers.

'As an interim solution, the municipality [eThekwini] has...