KZN targets June 2027 to close flood victims’ emergency accommodation

KwaZulu-Natal Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma has announced that the province intends to close all transitional emergency accommodation for flood victims by early June 2027 as it accelerates the delivery of permanent homes.

Presenting the Department of Human Settlements’ R3,266 billion budget for 2026/27 on Thursday, Duma said thousands of families affected by the 2022 floods and subsequent storms were gradually being moved from rented emergency accommodation into permanent, serviced houses.

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Over 3 000 families were relocated to rented flats known as transitional emergency accommodations (TEAs).

“Our next step is to close all TEAs by early June 2027,” Duma said.

The department has completed 113 homes for flood victims in Phase 2A of the Cornubia Integrated Residential Development Project in eThekwini.

The houses were handed over between May 18 and 22 to families who had been accommodated in Sydenham, Dassenhoek, Mahatma Gandhi Road, and Ntuzuma.

In Phase 2B, 70% of the bulk infrastructure has been completed and 146 sites are being serviced. A further 460 homes are expected to be delivered by the end of the financial year.

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“I have been closely monitoring construction progress as this intervention forms part of the province’s accelerated disaster recovery plan, aimed at ensuring that by 2027, every flood victim in KZN will be accommodated in a permanent and fully serviced home,” Duma said.

About R600 million will be spent on a total of 1 200 homes at Cornubia.

The department has also closed all TEA outside eThekwini, while three facilities in the metro have been closed and another four are scheduled to close by the end of July.

Montclair Lodge, which was bought from Transnet for R33 million in May 2025, has become the first TEA facility owned by the provincial government.

Construction of 268 units in the first phase has been completed, while a further 332 units are being planned by the Department of Public Works.

The Human Settlements Department currently spends R128 million a year renting emergency accommodation.

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Moving families to Cornubia and Montclair Lodge is projected to save the state R66 million.
Flood victims temporarily accommodated at Montclair Lodge and in duplex temporary residential units at

Cornubia are expected to receive permanent housing by March 2029 at the latest.

The department will also respond to storm damage in Mpophomeni and KwaHhaza, where more than 820 residents were affected and over 420 households were assessed. Hazardous asbestos roofs will be replaced under its rectification programme.

Of the department’s R3,266 billion budget, R2,791 billion comes from conditional grants and R475,34 million from the equitable share.

Housing development receives R2,796 billion, administration R305,6 million, housing asset management R138,7 million, and housing needs, research and planning R25,35 million.

The department aims to deliver 7 351 houses, service 2 571 sites, distribute 1 472 title deeds and build 286 community residential units during 2026/27.

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It also plans to build 1 276 homes for vulnerable families, create 300 First Home Finance opportunities, and generate 2 000 work opportunities.