Statement by Minister of Public Works and infrastructure, Patricia de Lille - DPWI approves gratis release of four parcels of land for human settlements developments and accommodation for households affected by KwaZulu Natal flooding earlier this year
I am pleased to report that following my visit earlier this week to inspect the work done by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) to repair flood damaged State-owned buildings in KwaZulu Natal, I have approved the released of four State-owned land parcels for human settlement developments and accommodation for households affected by KwaZulu Natal flooding earlier this year.
I have signed off the release of four parcels of land on a gratis basis to be released to the Housing Development Agency (HDA) for human settlement development purposes. The four parcels of land are located in the eThekwini Metro and we are processing another land parcel for release within the next two weeks.
Earlier this year, following the devastating flooding in KZN, DPWI was called on to identify suitable and available land to resettle communities displaced by the flooding.
The five properties are located in the sub-regions of the eThekwini metro with access roads to the properties in good condition. After consideration of various factors, it was recommended that the five properties be released as they were deemed feasible for fully integrated human settlements.
The land will be transferred only to be used for accommodation of households affected by the floods earlier this year and human settlement development purposes.
Following the transfer of the land, the HDA together with the metro and provincial government will be responsible for development of the properties to accommodate displaced communities.
We will continue to provide support in KZN in any way we can in terms of our mandate and work with all spheres of government to ensure that we restore KZN and help the many households in need.
During my visit to the province earlier this week, the Deputy Minister, Noxolo Kiviet and I inspected various repair works done by DPWI at State-Owned properties and preparatory work by teams who have been deployed to install bridges in the province.
Work on the repairs to State-owned properties has progress well and is almost 100% complete while work will start in earnest on the rural bridges in the coming weeks.
We look forward to returning to the province later this year to hand over completed bridges to communities in need and ensure that they have proper and decent access to places of work, school, hospitals and clinics and other amenities.
Enquiries:
Zara Nicholson: Media Liaison Officer to Minister Patricia de Lille
Mobile: 079 416 5996. Email: zara.nicholson@dpw.gov.za
