R1.2 Billion Needed to Rebuild Homes for Eastern Cape Flood Victims

BUTTERWORTH – The government estimates it will take R1.2 billion to rebuild houses for the victims of last week’s devastating floods, which affected 4,652 households and claimed at least 90 lives.*

Eastern Cape Human Settlements MEC Siphokazi Lusithi announced that due to the urgency of the situation, not all rebuilding efforts will follow the usual tender process. “We need to act quickly to help those in need,” she said.

In a visit to flood victims in Butterworth, Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane explained that residents might receive building materials to help them construct new homes, a common practice in rural areas. “We want to prioritize bereaved families so they can pay their last respects,” she added.

Simelane also mentioned that those who built their homes near riverbanks would need to relocate. “The floods are one of the biggest disasters we’ve faced,” she said, emphasizing the need to rethink housing and emergency policies. “Instead of waiting for 10 years for the tendering process, we should provide building materials directly to those affected.”

Khangelani Mangisa, a resident of the Skiti informal settlement in Butterworth, shared his hopes for a better future: “I would love to go back to a brick-and-mortar house. The idea of receiving land and building materials is a great one.”

As the government works to respond to this crisis, Lusithi confirmed that R1.2 billion will be crucial for rebuilding efforts, highlighting the need for a new approach to disaster response.