Umlazi residents in KZN evacuated after weather-related destruction to homes
56 homes were destroyed as a result of sporadic underground shifts in the area caused by continuous rainfall.
More than 180 homes have been left destroyed after a severe thunderstorm hit the northern parts of KwaZulu-Natal on 27 December 2024. Picture: KZNCOGTA/Facebook
JOHANNESBURG - More than 200 residents in Umlazi H section, south of Durban, are being evacuated after harsh weather damaged their homes.
Fifty-six homes were destroyed due to sporadic underground shifts in the area caused by continuous rainfall.
Earlier this week, the residents demanded that local government officials move them, citing safety concerns, and many have been left displaced when their homes collapsed.
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The human settlements department responded to the residents' call and began evacuations yesterday afternoon.
So far, more than 50 residents have been temporarily placed in emergency accommodations in the city.
The department has directed the National Builders' Registration Council to conduct structural integrity and geotechnical assessments to determine what is needed to assist the affected households.
However, as a long-term measure, the eThekwini municipality is set to identify a piece of land that will be used to accommodate the impacted homes with permanent settlement.
The evacuations, which continued until the early hours of Friday morning, have resumed to place the remaining residents in need of housing.