Durban — Three families received new homes, on Thursday, after they were left homeless following flash floods in the Alfred Duma Local Municipality in Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal.
The families were among 381 households that were affected by the devastating floods, in January, which left eight people dead. The Uthukela District Municipality, the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) and non-governmental organisation, Al-Imdaad Foundation joined hands and contributed to the building of these houses.
The DCS supplied prisoners from nearby correctional centres to assist with building the houses while the municipality and the Al-Imdaad Foundation assisted with building materials and furniture. The DCS said the project is an ongoing initiatives to help offenders integrate into society following their release.
The DCS said that artisan parolees, probationers and offenders were identified and allocated for the task from the Glencoe Management area where they began building the homes in April. Various government departments pitched in with electrical, water and sanitation connections.
Uthukela District Municipality Mayor Inkosi Ntandoyesizwe Shabalala said the handover coincided with Women’s Month celebrations as the families were all female-headed with most of the relatives still in school or collecting grants. Shabalala expressed his gratitude to all those who assisted.
The Al Imdaad Foundation stated that the handover took place in the Jononoskop area. The foundation said these houses are for three families in different wards.
Most of the eight people that died were washed away while crossing swollen rivers. The town areas and businesses were covered with water and some buildings submerged under water. Approximately 70 people were evacuated from the Ladysmith central. In the Steadville township 15 people and another 23 in Matiwane had to be evacuated to the community hall.
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