More than 30 flood victims have been relocated to New Rest in Butterworth in the Eastern Cape.
Government has completed 62 Temporary Relocation Units while in the process of building the houses.
This has brought some relief to those affected after they spent almost two months staying in town halls and guesthouses.
More than 60 families were left homeless by flash floods that hit the Mnquma Local Municipality in June.
Mthatha registered the highest number of deaths and hundreds were left homeless.
Women and children who were moved to these structures were elated.
Zukiswa Hillie, who is one of them, says, “Wow, this is beautiful. We have regained our confidence and dignity. We were afraid to go back to our homes back in the rural areas…Today, things have changed. We are excited and we really appreciate this effort by our government.”
Pamela Mthenjana, who is a mother of three, says her dignity has been restored.
‘My life has changed, now my children have a home, a roof over their head. This is a two-room house. I will now have my own room, sitting room – I am over the moon, and I can’t really express my gratitude more than this. We never expected this kind of generosity from government and humanitarian aid organisations. We are grateful and may all of you continue to help the needy people.”
Some believe the temporary structures are much better than the informal settlement they were living in before the June floods.
Siyabonga Phindeka says, “At last, we have relocated to these beautiful units. We are from the filthy Sikiti informal settlement, where our health was compromised, a place where we risked our safety almost every day. Today we are free. We have moved to this area, and things will definitely never be the same.”
Sydney Mcilongo reiterates Phindeka’s sentiments.
“We are happy because if you look at where we are coming from, Sikiti informal settlement, that place is hell. It is just over the riverbank, and we were not safe. It is not good for children and not good for women and it is very bad – but here we are now, things have changed.”
Mnquma Local Municipality spokesperson, Loyiso Mpalantshane, says this relocation is a temporary measure.
He says the official handing over of Temporary Relocation Units will be conducted by all spheres of government.
“We feel very excited to see happiness on their faces as the municipality. Of course, this is the first group – remember our provincial and national counterparts will come and conduct the official ceremony to relocate them in and hand over the houses officially.”
Community members have urged government to provide proper ablution facilities, water and electricity.
More people are expected to relocate to the units as soon as all of them are complete.
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