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The huge storm that hit Durban last night has left several communities
reeling. People's homes have been flooded and some have been washed away.

As always shack dwellers we are more vulnerable to these disasters than
most other people. For years we have been trying to engage the eThekwini
Municipality around both their failure to take adequate measures to
protect shack dwellers from disasters like fire and floods and to offer proper
support to shack dwellers after disasters. But the municipality only gives its
time for the people for political issues and not ever for issues of
development.

The Kennedy Road settlement is one of the places that has been badly
affected by this storm. When Nigel Gumede and others came to the settlements after
we were attacked there he promised that the people would be housed by
February 2010. They remain in their shacks. All they have received are the usual
lies.

Things are also very bad in the Quarry Road settlement. This settlement
has a river one side and a steep road running down towards it on the others
side. Each and every time there is rain the Quarry Road residents fear to sleep
at night because of not the knowing whether or not their houses will be
washed away. Councillor Bhekisani Ngcobo in Ward 25 has said that he will make
plans for the community to be safe but today they are sweeping water from their
homes.

In KwaMashu residents are suffering the same. Councillor Lucky Mdlalose in
ward 41 has not intervened to offer them assistance. The vales were full
of water, houses started to drown, even cars were almost washed away. This
has been happening for several times. What has really angered the community
this time is that the councillor came to the community after the storm but he
would not go inside to see the disaster for himself. He said that he is not
going to come inside the settlement to see the homes which are damaged because it a
mess. The residents feel that councillor does not have support and care
for his ward so they have blocked the road. They are now they are demanding
that the Municipality intervene to this matter.

Other communities that have been badly affected by the storm are
KwaNdengezi and Shannon Drive.

We can't keep living like this. When we are not burning we are being
flooded. We need land and housing in the cities. We need proper drainage, toilets
and electricity. We need the right to be able to represent ourselves in all
matters affecting our communities. We need a municipality that works for
the people, for all the people, and not for the politicians who only want our
votes. We will not accept being forced to live without safety or dignity.