Storm in Nongoma KZN: Emergency housing team dispatched

Human Settlements Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi swiftly responded to the aftermath of a devastating storm that struck Nongoma, KwaZulu-Natal, on Saturday by dispatching the department’s emergency housing team to assess the damage.

Preliminary assessments reveal that the Nongoma storm severely impacted several households in the villages of Ekubuseni, Gomodo, and Holinyoka, leaving four without homes.

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Minister Kubayi outlined the department’s four-tiered approach to emergency housing interventions: restoration, relocation, rebuilding, and repairs.

RESTORATION EFFORTS AND TEAS OFFERED TO NORTHERN KWAZULU-NATAL STORM VICTIMS

Restoration efforts will supply building materials to affected households, while relocation will offer Temporary Emergency Accommodation (TEAs) to homeless families.

Rebuilding will focus on reconstructing Temporary Residential Units (TRUs) for mud houses destroyed by the storm, and repairs will address damaged formal houses following assessments by the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC).

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“I have directed officials to ensure that affected households are assisted as a matter of urgency,” stated Minister Kubayi.

NHBRC ASSESSES STRUCTURES

The NHBRC is assessing the structural integrity of affected structures.

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Established in 2023, the Emergency Housing Unit collaborates with other government entities to respond to emergencies such as fires and floods. Minister Kubayi emphasised the unit’s commitment to providing swift solutions to enable affected communities to rebuild.

The department’s proactive approach underscores its dedication to addressing the immediate needs of disaster-stricken areas.