eThekwini Mayor Highlights Unprecedented Flooding and Housing Challenges in the City

eThekwini Municipality Mayor Cyril Xaba has revealed that the four major flood events the city has experienced in the last decade were more severe than the expected 1:100-year floods in some areas. These catastrophic storms, which occurred in 2017, 2019, 2022, and 2023, have caused widespread destruction and significant loss of life.

According to Xaba, the intensity of the recent storms far exceeded the city’s stormwater systems’ capacity, which are designed to handle a one-in-ten-year storm. The city’s infrastructure has been overwhelmed, leading to severe flooding and the loss of at least ten lives in the latest storms. Xaba emphasized the importance of proper waste disposal to prevent debris from clogging stormwater drains, which exacerbate flooding during heavy rains.

“While our stormwater systems are designed for certain levels of rainfall, these floods were greater than a 1:100-year event in certain parts of the city,” Xaba explained. “This unpredictability of flood events has pushed us to invest in better risk mitigation, including the Early Warning System.”

Also Read: Search Resumes for Five Missing After Torrential Rains in KZN

The municipality is now working on detailed assessments to develop stormwater management plans for high-risk areas and ensure that future development is safe. A major concern remains the housing crisis, particularly in the wake of last week’s fatalities in Lamontville, where residents were living in a transit camp after being displaced by the 2022 floods.

As of now, over 10,000 families are living in 71 transit camps across eThekwini. While some families have been relocated, thousands still await permanent housing solutions. The city aims to move all transit camp residents by 2027 through the Cornubia housing development, though logistical and financial constraints have hindered progress.

“We continue to face challenges, including community resistance to resettlement projects,” said Siboniso Duma, MEC for Human Settlements. “Some oppose housing developments, citing concerns about property values and social cohesion, but this resistance only worsens the housing crisis.”

Duma condemned the opposition to housing projects, particularly in Shallcross, where a planned development for 2022 flood victims was blocked by local residents. He dismissed concerns over water shortages and property value declines, stating that no scientific evidence supports these claims.

Hope Magidimisha, a town planning expert from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, suggested that vertical development and mixed-use projects could help address Durban’s land shortage. Infill development—utilizing vacant land within urban areas—was also proposed as a viable solution to manage the city’s growing population without expanding its footprint.

“The land pressures in Durban are mounting, and without effective planning and collaboration between government and private developers, informal settlements and transit camps will continue to grow,” she warned.

The city is now looking to integrate new housing developments into existing communities while maximizing limited land resources. By focusing on strategic planning and better land use, eThekwini hopes to provide sustainable housing solutions for the growing population and reduce the impact of future flooding events.

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com

Human Settlements Minister Visits KZN Flood Victims Amid Housing Dispute