Ten Pietermaritzburg families receive homes after being displaced during July’s unrest

Durban: Ten homes have been donated to families displaced during the July unrest in Pietermaritzburg.

The homes were given via Initiative 108 of the South African Hindu Maha Sabha (SAHMS) in partnership with the Peace and Development Forum.

The aim of Initiative 108 of the Maha Sabha is to promote social cohesion and provide humanitarian aid via community outreach programmes to those in need.

One of the recipients of the two-bedroom home, Nthobisi Gwala, 26, said that his home was burnt down during the unrest.

“I lost everything, from my TV to my furniture and all important documents. My home basically burnt to ash. I constructed another informal home for my family because we had nowhere to go. It took me a day to build, but it was unstable. I am forever grateful to the sponsors for allowing my family and me the privilege of a stable home. I am excited that we get to live our life as normal again.”

Gwala lives in the home with his wife, two children, his sister, her two children and his grandmother.

The SAHMS was represented by Ahbir Dayaram from Durban and advocate Nirgin from PMB at the handover.

Abhir Dayaram, convener of SAHMS, said that the objective is to create a caring, protective and enabling environment for those in need, regardless of race or nationality.

“The displacement occurred after the unrest in July, which resulted in the destruction of shelters of families living in the Khan Road informal settlement in Raisthorpe in Pietermaritzburg. There were several challenges in the area, and these included the looting and attempted looting of some businesses, the alleged killing of two people in the Khan Road informal settlement by vigilantes, the burning down of the settlement allegedly by vigilantes and the racial tensions between Indians and Africans over these events. Three people were subsequently arrested. It is part of our commitment to promote peace, harmony and social cohesion as per the injunction ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (the world is one family),” he said.

The Peace and Development Forum was initiated by the community in response to the civil unrest in the Khan Road area.

Roshan Jainath, Peace and Development convener, said an immediate priority is for funds to be raised for the rehabilitation of shacks that were burnt down, to upgrade the informal settlement and restore the dignity of residents.

Those wishing to contribute or support Initiative 108 can email: info@sahms.org.za or call 031 309 1951.

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