Amnesty International South Africa accuses the government of failing to protect millions of people in informal settlements where flooding continues to destroy livelihoods, homes and dignity. “Flooded and Forgotten: Informal Settlements and the Rights to Housing in South Africa”The report was launched at Constitutional Hill in Johannesburg on Tuesday. It highlights the fact that communities across Johannesburg, eThekwini, and Cape Town suffer from recurring flooding, without the help of the state. Siphesihle Mdonsela, from Freedom Park in Johannesburg, explained how heavy rains bring fear and loss. “We have no help from anyone. We have to stay and fix our homes after each rainfall.”Amnesty reports that many informal settlements have been built on land prone to flooding. Residents live in makeshift houses without drainage systems, sanitation, or reliable access water and electricity. Floods can cause people to lose everything – from their belongings and sense of security, to their homes. In KwaZulu Natal, residents displaced by floods in 2022 are still living with temporary structures almost three years after the floods. Some of the people who were relocated died when their new locations were also affected by flooding. Palesa Mashinini said that she lives in KwaZulu Natal. “When floods hit, our children cannot go to school and the roads flood, making it difficult for even ambulances to come fetch sick people.”Families in Cape Town’s low-lying area suffer repeated losses. Residents have become accustomed to patching damaged homes using plastic sheets and wood boards as city officials seldom visit after flooding.“We sleep with our clothes on during winter because we know the water can come in at any time,” said a Khayelitsha resident.Amnesty International South Africa’s executive director, Shenilla Mohamed, said these conditions violate the right to adequate housing and dignity guaranteed in South Africa’s constitution.“The government is failing the millions of people trapped in these underserved areas, especially in a time when economic hardships and poverty are rife,” She said “People live in informal settlements because there is a lack of affordable housing or because they need to live close to work opportunities.”Amnesty found that local municipalities rarely classify seasonal flooding in informal settlements as a disaster requiring urgent response. Yet Amnesty found that local municipalities rarely classify seasonal flooding in informal settlements as disasters warranting urgent response.Despite existing legislation such as the Disaster Management Act and the National Disaster Management Framework, the report says South Africa’s response remains “patchy and piecemeal”, with little preparation or recovery support.We are urging all affected residents to remain patient and allow the processes to unfold as planned and not interfere with ongoing work on the ground, as this may delay progress,” said Maluleka.Amnesty has called on the government to:prioritise the upgrading of informal settlements;ensure access to essential services such as clean water and sanitation; andintegrate disaster risk reduction into urban planning.“Despite strong laws and policies, implementation remains the issue. This failure comes at a huge cost to the human rights, lives and livelihoods of millions of people,” Mohamed said. City Tshwane has made progress in moving residents out of flood-prone areas and unsafe ones as part of the broader informal settlement upgrade program. “The city is on track to relocate 752 households to erf 1427 in Ga-Rankuwa units 23 and 25 to ensure safe, dignified and serviced stands.”Brengaville is one of the areas that will be relocated. This area falls under Eskom servitudes, and it’s also within a flood zone. Another 183 households from Ga-Rankuwa View Extension 1 (also known as Beverly Hills), will be relocated in order to allow for infrastructure and township upgrades.“We are urging all affected residents to remain patient and allow the processes to unfold as planned and not interfere with ongoing work on the ground, as this may delay progress,” he said, adding that the relocations form part of the city’s commitment to improving living conditions, enhancing safety and promoting sustainable community growth.TimesLIVE
2025-11-04 15:42:24
Government blamed as floods devastate SA’s informal settlements
