Govt Hands Over Flood Homes in KZN, Reopens Coedmore Bridge for Residents

On Tuesday morning, Simelane received a briefing in the uMgungundlovu District on the provision of temporary residential units and long-term housing plans.

Minister of Human Settlements Thembi Simelane, joined by KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Human Settlements and Transport Siboniso Duma and several municipal mayors, has embarked on a two-day programme to hand over permanent houses to families displaced by the devastating 2022 floods in KwaZulu-Natal.

The initiative, which forms part of Operation Siyahlola, runs from 19–20 August and involves site visits to eThekwini, uMsunduzi, and Impendle Municipalities to evaluate progress on disaster recovery and housing interventions.

Handing Over Permanent Homes

On Tuesday morning, Simelane received a briefing in the uMgungundlovu District on the provision of temporary residential units and long-term housing plans. Together with District Mayor Mzi Zuma, the Minister engaged flood-affected communities in Impendle Municipality, where she formally introduced a contractor tasked with building permanent homes for families still living in temporary shelters.

Later in the day, Simelane and her delegation handed over newly built houses in Copesville (uMsunduzi Municipality) to survivors who had lost their homes during the 2022 disaster.

According to the Department of Human Settlements, Operation Siyahlola prioritises the delivery of permanent housing solutions in municipalities hardest hit by the floods, including eThekwini and uMsunduzi.

“Minister Simelane and the provincial government will also hand over title deeds as part of government’s campaign to distribute 80,000 title deeds by 2029, unlocking over R16 billion in asset value,” the department said.

The Minister emphasised that partnerships with local communities, traditional leaders, and private stakeholders are central to ensuring sustainable recovery and restoring dignity to affected families.

Upcoming Housing Projects

On Wednesday, Simelane is scheduled to hand over additional houses at the Illovo Infill and Cato Crest housing projects in eThekwini, both constructed specifically for victims of the 2022 floods. These projects are part of a broader strategy to resettle families permanently, replacing temporary shelters with durable homes.

Coedmore Bridge Reopens

In a related development, eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba officially reopened the Coedmore Bridge, a vital link in the city’s transport network that was destroyed during the April 2022 floods.

The R47 million reconstruction project included:

• Building a 150-metre access road

• Installation of traffic-calming measures

• Enhanced drainage systems to better manage stormwater

• Widening of the bridge into two lanes, making it safer and more resilient

Mayor Xaba hailed the new infrastructure as a “state-of-the-art, resilient structure”, noting that it was one of three bridges rebuilt with advanced engineering to withstand heavy rains and future flooding.

“Following the damage caused by the floods, we are building back better. These new bridges will not collapse even during severe weather events,” Xaba said.

Local Jobs and Skills Development

The Coedmore project also created 10–15 job opportunities per month during construction. Local subcontractors were engaged in specialised works such as earthworks, steel fabrication, concrete placement, drainage, landscaping, and electrical installations.

This inclusive approach ensured that economic benefits were shared with surrounding communities while also helping build local skills and technical capacity.

Although the project faced delays due to adverse weather and unforeseen geotechnical challenges, Xaba said the completed bridge now ranks among the city’s best and most durable infrastructure projects, offering residents renewed hope and improved connectivity.

The dual focus on housing recovery and infrastructure rebuilding underscores government’s commitment to long-term disaster resilience in KwaZulu-Natal. By handing over homes, securing land rights through title deeds, and rebuilding key transport links, authorities aim to restore stability, promote local economic development, and ensure affected communities are better protected from future disasters.