The eThekwini municipality has allayed concerns of residents of Montclair in the south of Durban on the issue of the flood victims who have been temporarily relocated from a costly flat on Point Road to the area.

This was after the municipality clarified that the relocation is not permanent and the lodge will, at some point, be vacant and used only to house victims of disasters on an ad hoc basis while permanent accommodation is being sought.

The assurance comes after Montclair residents called a community meeting on Monday, demanding answers regarding the move.

EThekwini officials on site said the victims would next move to Cornubia, where a multi-million village for all flood victims is nearing completion.

“The people are here on temporary basis, they will be moved to join others in Cornubia, thus the lodge will be used in case there is an emergency and people have to be relocated,” one official said.

The people housed at the lodge came from different informal settlements in Umlazi and other areas which were affected by floods.

One of the people who has been moved to the area, Nonceba Qwalani, expressed her gratefulness that they have been temporarily moved to Montclair.

“This place is better than the lodge we were settled in, I am happy here,” she said.

Once fully renovated, the lodge, which was once owned by Transnet, will have 500 rooms.