Riverlands flood victims excited at the prospect of getting new homes soon

CAPE TOWN - Riverlands residents, outside Cape Town, who lost their homes during last year's floods are excited about the prospect of getting new homes soon.

Widespread flooding caused by the collapse of four dam walls at a nearby farm in August left a trail of destruction in the small West Coast town.

READ: IN PICS: Riverlands flood destruction leaves residents in low spirits

The floods destroyed people's homes and left more than 200 of them destitute.

Water supply in the town was also cut off for three months due to infrastructure damage.

For more than five months, Riverlands flood victims were forced to seek shelter with family, and friends, and at local community centres.

Before the end of this week, however, the first 60 people will be moving into their newly built structures.

Annelize Kay told EWN that she can't wait to move into a place she can call her own home again.

"For a long time I've been longing for my own space and to get my normal life back. Our whole lives were turned upside down, and to see that people are busy building a house for you is emotional."

She said she's grateful to the people of the local community centre who took her and her child in at their time of need.