KZN Rebuild Intervention Project Launch In Partnership With The Old Mutual Foundation

The launch aims to mobilize stakeholders' joint efforts to combat SGBVF in Thohoyandou, and identify strategies to address the drivers and root causes of SGBVF, as well as to raise awareness and sensitize stakeholders.

On the Friday, 11 November 2022, a sod-turning ceremony for the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Rebuild Intervention Project will be held in KwaMakhutha Township, eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality (KZN ). The project is an initiative of Old Mutual Foundation and is implemented in partnership with the Collen Mashawana Foundation. It is aimed at Restoring and Rebuilding the Dignity for the KZN Rural Communities after the severe impact by the floods of April 2022. The Sod Turning event is a pre-build up event towards the 20th Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture of 12 November of The Nelson Mandela Foundation. 

Through this project, 80 permanent houses with basic furniture will be built for those who lost their homes and were left destitute following the devastating floods. Psycho-social support through trauma-infused approaches will be provided for the beneficiaries. 

Small-scale food production activities will also be established as a food security measure for the victims and they will further be supported relevant homeowner training and basic financial education.

We are pleased to extend assistance because the project marks the beginning of the much needed permanent solution for the victims of the KZN floods. It has been a long journey and although there is still much to be done, it brings comfort to see these collective actions and solutions.

The team started off at Gogo Nontlatla Ndlovu at KwaMakhutha in Ethekwini Municipality. Gogo had her leg amputated after her house collapsed on her during the heavy downpour. She lived with her grandchildren who is now squatting with neighbours and renting at various places in the neighbourhood. The CMF made a commitment to build the family a new house in the next few weeks.The house will be handed over before Christmas. A wheelchair was also donated by the Wheelchair Doctor, which will assist Gogo to manoeuvre easier.

 The second family we visited is of Gogo Sihle Kunene ,who lives with her 32 years old twin daughters diagnosed with a mental disorder. Their house was also was washed away by the floods and we will move them to a temporary structure while a new house is in progress of being built. There is a team from Afribiz which is already on site to build them a new home before Christmas. We joined the construction team in the laying of bricks and also had the MEC of Human Settlement and Public Works MEC Dr Ntuthuko Mahlaba and the Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda, rolling up their sleeves to assist.

Both families were given food and as part of the ongoing campaign, the team has identified 10 other houses whose homes are also in the process of getting rebuilt as part of the 80 Homes committed by our partner Old Mutual Foundation.

We stand ready to support the KZN flood victims in every way that we can ,and our deepest sympathies goes to all the families and victims that had their livelihoods disrupted by the floods.