Relocated flood victims relieved to have a place to call home again

“Sleeping in your own place and being able to wake up any time you want is better than living in a crowded open hall with many other people.”

This is according to Mthatha mother Noziphiwo Kholosa, who was among thousands of people left homeless by the June 10 floods that hit the province, claiming about 103 lives and leaving more than 4,000 people without homes.

The 60-year-old Kholosa was speaking on Wednesday , a day after moving into a temporary residential unit provided by the government in Maydene Farm, less than 10km outside the Mthatha CBD.

She had been among scores of people who living in church, community and municipal halls in the area following the June tragedy.

On Tuesday afternoon, her family was one of 25 who moved into temporary residential units.

“I am on chronic medication. With so many people around [in a hall], I found it difficult to fall asleep [at] night for the longest time,” Kholosa said.

Sometimes I would feel just like being alone but that was not possible. I am overjoyed that once again, I have a place to call home

“Sometimes I would feel just like being alone but that was not possible. I am overjoyed that once again, I have a place to call home.

“This is very important for an elderly person like me. Nothing beats waking up in your own house.”

Though her entire home in Slovo in Mthatha West was destroyed by the flood, Kholosa was not home when it hit.

She had been visiting her eldest daughter in Gqeberha. Her daughter’s 14-year-old son who stayed with her in Mthatha was also not home when disaster struck.

“It was by the grace of God that no-one was at home on that day, otherwise I would not be talking to you now. This house will help me and my family as we try to pick up our lives.”

Fellow flood victim 46-year-old Toneka Mgwantashe’s modest two-room house in Slovo was also completely destroyed by the floods, rendering her homeless.

However, she cherished the time she spent with other flood survivors at the OR Tambo hall as they were able to comfort each other. But she was ecstatic to move into her new home on Tuesday.

“It feels good to have a place to call home again,” she said.

Asakhe Ndamase and her five children also moved into a temporary house in Maydene Farm on Tuesday.

She had been particularly unhappy with living in a huge and open hall as it was very cold, though “they cooked for us and took great care of us while we were there”.

The 25 temporary residential units are part of 400 shelters being constructed to house flood victims.

The deputy minister in the presidency for planning, monitoring and evaluation, Seiso Mohai, who recently led an oversight visit to assess disaster relief efforts in Mthatha, said restoring shelter and basic services remained the priority alongside long-term readiness.

“It is not nice to stay in the community hall, but they will soon be out of that condition,” he said at the time.

Once the temporary residential units had been finished, the government would focus on providing amenities and psychosocial support, particularly for children who had lost family members or endured trauma, he said.

King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality spokesperson Sonwabo Mampoza said the majority of those who were able to move into the temporary residential units were elderly people who had been prioritised.

He said the temporary shelters would afford much-needed privacy as families  tried to rebuild their lives.

“This is an ongoing process until all the beneficiaries are able to move into their own temporary residential units,” he said.

He said the government had provided mobile flush toilets and even erected street lights in the area to ensure safety.

“We are working around the clock to ensure that they [temporary shelters] are completed.”

The government was also continuing to engage with traditional leaders to secure land for the construction of permanent houses for the flood victims.

Daily Dispatch