KZN Govt Mobilizes Rapid Relief for Kenville Informal Settlement Fire Victims

Duma announced that the municipality, in collaboration with NGO Gift of the Givers, has organized blankets, mattresses, and food for the affected families.

The KwaZulu-Natal government is swiftly mobilizing relief efforts in response to a devastating fire that engulfed over 200 informal units in the Kenville Informal Settlement, Sea Cow Lake, Durban, displacing 431 families and tragically claiming a life.

KwaZulu-Natal Transport and Human Settlements MEC, Siboniso Duma, alongside eThekwini Municipality Mayor, Cyril Xaba, visited Kenville and committed to immediate relief measures while activating a comprehensive plan to support the affected families.

In coordination with Human Settlements Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi, the provincial Human Settlements Department and eThekwini Municipality announced plans to deliver building materials by Wednesday and Thursday to reconstruct the 237 informal dwellings destroyed by the fire. Additionally, arrangements are being made to provide building materials for more than 200 families previously affected but awaiting completion of their profiles.

Duma announced that the municipality, in collaboration with NGO Gift of the Givers, has organized blankets, mattresses, and food for the affected families. The Office of the Mayor is assisting families of the deceased with funeral arrangements.

“The Department of Education is ensuring continuity of learning for 89 children, while the Department of Health has deployed a mobile clinic to ensure access to quality healthcare,” Duma stated. The Department of Social Development is providing relief vouchers and counseling, and Home Affairs is facilitating the issuance of temporary IDs and other necessary documents.

Emphasizing a long-term strategy, Duma affirmed the government's commitment to relocating all families to suitable land where permanent, decent housing can be constructed. He highlighted the challenges posed by informal settlements in precarious locations prone to natural disasters exacerbated by climate change.

Mayor Xaba assured that the municipality, in collaboration with all levels of government, is focused on providing essential relief to fire victims to restore normalcy in their lives. Affected families have been relocated to temporary shelters and provided with essential supplies.

“Social workers and healthcare professionals are on-site offering psychosocial support and medical services. The Department of Human Settlements has profiled all affected households to facilitate the provision of necessary building materials,” Xaba affirmed.

The joint efforts underscore a concerted response to alleviate the immediate hardships faced by Kenville fire victims and pave the way for sustainable recovery and resilience in the community.