Dozens displaced after KZN informal settlement fires
EThekwini Mayor, James Nxumalo says disasters like yesterday's deadly fire in Lamontville make it increasingly difficult to deal with the city's housing backlog.
A 54-year-old man lost his life and seven shacks were burnt to ground when the blaze ripped through the township, south of Durban in the morning.
Nxumalo was on site to pay his condolences to the man's family.
He addressed the issue of housing.
"The fact of the matter is that there are so many people who are on the list, who are still waiting for houses because of our backlog.
"We have about 500 informal settlements with 290 000 people who are residing in those areas but we have a challenge of limited resources where we can't reach each and every household within a year or two.
"It will take some time but what is important is to make sure that there are people who are being allocated houses," he said.
(File photo)