Durban — The eThekwini Municipality has found alternative accommodation for the flood victims that were evicted from Tehuis Hostel on Wednesday night.
It is believed that the flood victims, including children, were evicted from Tehuis Hostel and dumped outside the Lamontville police station, south of Durban.
In a brief statement, the municipality said it has found new accommodation for evicted flood victims.
The municipality said that following the eviction of displaced flood victims who had been housed at the Tehuis Hall since the April floods, the city can confirm that new accommodation has been found.
“The city had initially decided to move the residents to Wema Hostel, however during the move, the city was advised of potential security risks from the area. For the safety of the residents, the buses travelling to Wema Hostel were rerouted to the Lamontville police station for safety reasons. The residents remained there under guard until they could be moved,” the municipality said.
“Meanwhile, the city is also investigating the cause of the initial eviction as well as the potential security threat.”
Earlier, the IFP in KwaZulu-Natal said it will lodge a complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) after flood victims, along with their belongings, were transported and dumped outside a police station.
Blessed Gwala, chief whip of the IFP caucus in the KZN legislature, said that the party will lodge an official grievance with the SAHRC against the ANC government in KwaZulu-Natal.
“This follows reports of flood victims subjected to appalling and dehumanising conditions. They were allegedly forced to sleep outside last night (Wednesday) near Lamontville police station, in a place known as eNkanjini in uMhlongo Road in Lamontville.
“Women, children, and senior citizens were forced to spend the night out in the open after they were evacuated from Tehuis Hall in uMlazi yesterday (Wednesday),” Gwala said.
He said that according to the victims, they were dispatched from Tehuis Hall by eThekwini Municipality in two buses. As they feared losing their belongings, they loaded them into the buses and slept in an open field.
Daily News