Hundreds of families displaced by the April 2022 floods in KwaZulu-Natal are struggling to settle into their new homes in the Cornubia housing development near Phoenix, north of Durban. Nomthandazo Nama, one of the beneficiaries, expressed concerns about the quality of her new home, citing gaps around her windows and under her doors that allow water to leak in and damage her belongings. Despite being excited to move in just a few months ago, Nama has had to use her social grant to buy expensive paint to seal her crumbling cement floor.
Many residents, like Muzi Ngongoma, a pensioner who uses a walking stick, have been allocated homes that do not meet their needs. Ngongoma complained that he was given a double-storey house despite his mobility issues, making it difficult for him to access basic facilities like the bathroom and kitchen. He was asked by officials if he could walk up the stairs, but had no choice but to accept the house. Similar concerns were raised by other residents, who feel that their needs were not taken into account during the allocation process.
President Cyril Ramaphosa visited the Cornubia development last week, accompanied by KZN premier Thami Ntuli, human settlements minister Thembi Simelane, and eThekwini mayor Cyril Xaba. During the visit, Ramaphosa handed over two houses to flood victims and symbolically threw soil on a tree that was already planted. According to Ramaphosa, 145 houses are currently under construction, with a total of 460 homes planned for the development by mid-2027.
However, residents have expressed concerns about the rapid deterioration of their homes, citing issues with drainage and poor workmanship. Thandiwe Mnqayi reported multiple leaks to the municipality, which have still not been fixed, including a leaking shower that has forced her family to put down a bucket to catch the water. Residents have had to take matters into their own hands, with some building makeshift trenches to redirect water leaking onto the road.
The municipality has acknowledged the issues, with spokesperson Senzelwe Mzila stating that drainage issues are being assessed and that residents are encouraged to report leaks through the municipality's service channels. Mzila also stated that defects, such as leaking windows, are assessed and addressed by the defects management process. However, residents remain skeptical, citing the slow response to their concerns.
The Cornubia development is one of the government's efforts to provide housing to those affected by the floods. However, the project has been plagued by delays, with the first 113 homes only being handed over in May. Ramaphosa acknowledged that many government-built houses in the past have been located far from jobs, transport, schools, and hospitals, and emphasized the need for housing developments to be well-maintained.
As the government continues to work on the Cornubia development, residents are calling for their concerns to be addressed. The provincial human settlements department has been contacted for comment, but questions had not been answered at the time of publication. For now, residents like Nama and Ngongoma are left to deal with the consequences of poor workmanship in their new homes.
Key points
- Many residents have been allocated homes that do not meet their needs, including double-storey houses for those with mobility issues.
- Residents have reported issues with drainage and poor workmanship, including water leaks and crumbling cement floors.
- The government has acknowledged the issues and is working to address them, but residents remain skeptical about the response.
