By Nangamso Mabindla
27 February 2008

THE 300 Duncan Village families that lost their homes during the 2002 floods in East London received new homes on Wednesday, 27 February.

The houses were handed over by Buffalo City Executive Mayor Zintle Peter.

Families were left homeless when their shacks were swept away by the floods that hit the city in August 2002. To help them, the municipality and the provincial department of housing, local government and traditional affairs initiated the R130-million Reeston low cost housing programme.

"Today we are fulfilling the promise we made to the 2002 flood victims; we want to show them that we have not forgotten about them. By handing over these units to the families we are trying to show them that we understand their plight," Peter said.

She thanked the people for their patience, saying she hoped other families from Duncan Village could show that same attitude as they waited for their houses to be completed.

"I knew your plight, that is why I wanted the municipality to accelerate the rate of construction so that we met the needs of the people, and they have delivered."

The houses that were handed over this morning form part of stage one of the Reeston project, which is expected to be completed by May 2009. In the first stage, the City will build 796 units; a further 2 500 units will be built in stage two.

One of the beneficiaries, Luleka Faniso, was "very happy" to own a house in Reeston. "I can't believe that I have my own house. Gone are the days of sleepless nights worried about where the next shack fire will break out. I've been waiting for five years and I want to appeal to other people to be patient - their day will come," she said.

Faniso thanked the municipality for giving her the opportunity to own a home.