Ramaphosa Visits Cornubia Amid Ongoing Wait for KZN Flood Victims’ Permanent Housing

Presidential Visit to Cornubia Highlights Housing Challenges

President Cyril Ramaphosa is visiting the Cornubia Integrated Human Settlements Project in Durban, a key development in the ongoing efforts to provide permanent homes for those displaced by the devastating 2022 KwaZulu-Natal floods. The visit underscores national and local government initiatives in the face of continued demand for adequate and dignified housing.

Progress at Cornubia: Delivering Hope for Displaced Families

The Cornubia project has marked significant milestones, delivering nearly 3,000 fully subsidised homes so far as part of a much larger plan to create 12,593 housing units. The development, which has been underway for over a decade, aims to offer a mix of subsidised Breaking New Ground (BNG) homes, First Home Finance options for the so-called “missing middle,” and social housing solutions.

Supporting infrastructure forms an essential part of the community, including a school, retail outlets, and recreational amenities, reflecting a holistic approach to integrated human settlements.

First Permanent Homes for Flood Survivors

Cornubia recently welcomed its first group of 2022 flood survivors. In May, 113 families who had spent years in temporary accommodation received permanent houses. This milestone formed part of a broader effort by the eThekwini Municipality and the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Human Settlements to move displaced residents into secure homes.

“I am encouraged by the progress we have seen at Cornubia. This development will go a long way in restoring dignity to residents who have endured extremely difficult circumstances following the floods,” said eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba.

The municipality also continues to work on expanding available accommodation, with plans underway to refurbish 500 more units at Montclair Lodge. The goal is to provide over 1,000 units by mid-year for those still living in temporary emergency shelters.

Focus on Temporary and Emergency Accommodation

During his visit, President Ramaphosa will tour the Montclaire Lodge, which has been identified as the first government-owned Temporary Emergency Accommodation facility. This site forms part of ongoing efforts to provide adequate shelter and transition displaced families into more permanent, dignified living environments.

• Ongoing construction at Cornubia aims to add 146 more housing units by December 2026.
• Plans also include converting government buildings for affordable residential use.
• Collaboration between national, provincial, and local authorities is critical for speeding up housing delivery.

Working Towards Dignified Living and Economic Opportunity

The Cornubia development is more than a response to disaster reliefit is designed to bring communities closer to economic opportunities and essential services, while addressing spatial inequalities rooted in South Africa’s history. By integrating housing with education, commerce, and recreation, the project aims to establish sustainable, well-connected neighbourhoods.

Continued Need for Partnership and Acceleration

Ramaphosa’s visit spotlights the ongoing need for cooperation at all levels of government to accelerate housing delivery. While progress has been made, thousands of KwaZulu-Natal residents await a permanent solution after years in temporary accommodation. The milestone celebration at Cornubia is intended not only to mark what has been achieved, but also to reinforce the urgency of expanding access to dignified living conditions for all those affected by the floods.