Six months turned into seven years. That is how long families relocated for the raising of the Hazelmere Dam wall had to wait before getting the keys to their homes.

Their relocation allowed the Department of Water and Sanitation to raise the wall by 7 metres from 86m to 93m.

This upgrade project aimed to enhance the water supply to the eThekwini Metro, iLembe, and KwaDukuza municipalities in the North Coast by increasing storage capacity.

On Monday, Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina handed seven houses built by the department to some families in Oakford, Verulam.

Majodina said that on December 19, the department conducted an oversight of the construction site.

“We are here to bring back their dignity by removing them from park homes and putting them in houses. However, they lack electricity. We have paid the eThekwini Municipality to connect electricity,” Majodina said.

She said because of vandalism, they will still allow the beneficiaries to move in so the houses are not vandalised while they live in the park homes.

“By the end of April, we hope electricity and everything else will be connected,” Majodina said.

Majodina said people are complaining about water and saying there is no water in eThekwini. Therefore, they will add water tanks to homes.

Majodina said each house is worth R2.2 million with all services.

The department handed over seven houses with the remaining eight expected to be completed and handed over within the next three months.

“The delay was caused by rain. Had it not rained between December and now, the houses would have been completed,” Majodina said.

Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister David Mahlobo said there was criminality in the area. Already, criminals have stolen tiles and windows.

“Our people should respect infrastructure. We’re seeing interruptions with water pipes, people connecting illegally,” Mahlobo said.

Mahlobo said that because people were not respecting and disrupting the construction, Majodina said the beneficiaries should move into their homes even though the time had not come.

Ward 60 councillor Fakazi Mdletshe said affected families were patient living in park homes for the last seven years, but they did not lose hope.

Beneficiaries are from the following families: Ngcobo (×2), Shazi, Mlaba, Majiya, Dlamini and Khuzwayo.