KZN Floods: Shauwn Mkhize (MaMkhize) under fire for using cheap material in building Durban houses washed away by floods

Shauwn Mkhize aka MaMkhize’s company, Zikhulise Construction, which was allegedly awarded tenders to build houses around Durban in Kwazulu Natal province has been accused of using cheap material in building the houses that were “easily” swept away by the recent floods.

Durban was among the most affected towns in Kwazulu Natal which were affected by the recent floods that have since claimed more than 250 lives and left dozens missing from that region.

Months’ worth of rainfall fell in one day in the province of KwaZulu Natal last weekend resulting in floods and mudslides which swept away dozens of properties including cars and houses.

Most of the houses that got swept away are thought to be government-funded social housing project (RDP) houses that are usually built for poor communities in townships.

There are, however, media contents circulating on social media that claim that the floods affected not only RDP houses but all infrastructure that was on the way by the flash floods.

Social media is convinced houses were swept away because construction companies and tender companies did not do proper engineering procedures to secure the infrastructure against unforeseen disasters including floods.

One of the companies that got such a tender was the Zikhulise group of companies that happen to be run by millionaire and socialite Shawn Mkhize, popularly known as MaMkhize.

She has been getting backlashes on social media for being part of the people that benefited from the schemes that have left thousands homeless in KwaZulu Natal.

The publication has, however, noted that in as much as MaMkhize’s company was awarded one of the tenders to build such houses that were unfortunately swept away by the floods; there is no proof that her company used cheap materials in building the houses.

Despite evidence that we found that her company built houses in some areas that were affected, there is also no proof that the particularly affected houses were built by her company.

Majority of the houses that collapsed in eThekwini were built by the lady that owns a soccer team and flaunts her ill gotten wealth riding on camels. For destroying peoples lives she will be rewarded with more tenders to build shoddy houses. #KZNFloods #KZNWeather

— Goolam (@goolammv) April 13, 2022

Sad thing about our country is that we never hold people accountable. Cheap material used for maintaining infrastructure but pockets are filled. In other countries this would constitute homicide??#KZNFloods #KZNWeather https://t.co/tusYBbnC1R

— Sibusiso Zulu (@realsibusiso_z) April 13, 2022