Story By: Vuyolwethu Gwala

Nearly 80 poor families can live in dignity again after the Municipality helped repair their dilapidated homes or build new ones for them. The Repair of Unsafe Houses for Vulnerable Families project is an initiative of the Municipality’s Extended Public Works Programme (EPWP) and Habitat for Humanity South Africa. EPWP Manager Mpho Mthembu said families judged to be most affected by poverty in the Municipality’s Ward 99 and 100 were identified and, with help from the Department of Human Settlement, homes were built for them. She said the project started in 2008 and more houses would be built soon.

Zama Nxele (33), one of the recipients of the houses at Craigieburn, near uMkomaas, said the new home had made a tremendous difference to her family of eight. She said her sister was the only one who was employed and supported the whole family, which had made it impossible to maintain their home. “Our old house collapsed shortly after we moved into the new house last August and I do not know what we would have done if the Municipality had not built us this new house,” Nxele said. The whole community had been involved in building the houses. “We assisted with transporting bricks and other menial labour. That makes me feel like I built this house with my own hands and I am proud of that,” she said.

gwalav@durban.gov.za