Delays in Jika Joe informal settlement rebuilding
A Pietermaritzburg woman who lost her home to a recent fire at the Jika Joe informal settlement says the past two weeks have been a nightmare.
The blaze destroyed over 500 homes at the settlement late last month.
It affected over 150 dwellers. They've been placed in temporary accommodation.
These residents are now in quarantine after two people among them contracted the coronavirus.
Xoliswa Mdluli - who's been living with her parents there for over four years - says they were told government would immediately help them with rebuilding their houses.
"It's been very difficult for the past few weeks because no one is telling us anything and we are hoping that soon we can start building our shacks and hoping to be moved from here to there.
READ: PMB shack dwellers affected by fire threaten to occupy rental units
"We just hope for the better. We are just hoping that the municipality will help us soon because we are struggling," says Mdluli.
Provincial spokesperson for Human Settlements, Mbulelo Baloyi says they've had problems getting a supplier for building materials.
"Immediately after the fire, the department invited suppliers of building material to quote. The quotations that we received were far higher.
"So we had to restart the process afresh. By Friday this week, we should be able to have concluded the whole process of getting a supplier."
