The O.R. Tambo District Municipality has clarified how flood-affected households were relocated to Maiden Farm following the June 2025 floods.
The statement, issued on 22 February 2025, outlines who qualified for emergency housing and why some residents were not eligible.
What happened?
According to the municipality, six Mass Care Centres were established around Mthatha after the June 2025 floods under the Disaster Management Act.
These centres provided temporary shelter and humanitarian assistance to displaced families.
As part of the recovery programme, land at Maiden Farm was identified for relocating households whose homes were structurally damaged or destroyed by the floods.
In October 2025, verified and qualifying households were formally moved from the Mass Care Centres to Temporary Residential Units (TRUs) at Maiden Farm.
The municipality stated that all households verified as flood-affected beneficiaries have now been successfully relocated.
Why it matters to residents
The clarification addresses concerns raised about who qualified for relocation and why some people were not moved.
Importantly, disaster housing relief is legally defined as an emergency intervention. It restores shelter to households whose primary residences were directly affected by a declared disaster.
Therefore, it cannot be extended to individuals who do not meet the formal disaster assessment criteria.
The municipality acknowledged broader housing pressures in communities. However, it stated that long-term housing support falls under separate legislation and processes.
What you need to know
The allocation of Temporary Residential Units was based on formal disaster assessments conducted by authorised officials.
To qualify for relocation to Maiden Farm, households had to meet all of the following criteria:
- The home was directly damaged or destroyed by the June floods
- The occupants were lawful owners or recognised residents of the affected property
- The household met eligibility criteria under disaster housing relief provisions
A number of individuals at the Northcrest Hall Mass Care Centre did not qualify after assessments were completed.
The verification process found that they were not owners or recognised occupants of homes structurally impacted by the floods.
Disaster relief vs long-term housing
| Disaster housing relief | Long-term housing assistance |
|---|---|
| Emergency intervention | Regulated housing programme |
| Linked to declared disaster | Governed by National Housing Act |
| Based on verified flood damage | Requires formal housing application |
| Temporary Residential Units | Permanent housing allocation process |
The municipality emphasised that emergency interventions cannot replace the formal housing allocation system.
What you should do next
If your home was damaged by the June 2025 floods and you believe you were incorrectly excluded, contact your local municipality to confirm your assessment outcome.
If you need long-term housing assistance, register on the official housing demand database through your local municipality.
Make sure you follow the prescribed housing application procedures under the National Housing Act and National Housing Code.
Where to get help
Residents can:
- Visit their respective Local Municipality offices
- Request information on disaster assessment outcomes
- Register on the housing demand database for long-term housing support
The O.R. Tambo District Municipality stated that it remains committed to lawful and transparent processes, fairness in public resource allocation, and protecting the integrity of disaster interventions.
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