The official residence designated for use by the President and Deputy President in Durban‚ John Dube House‚ has been declared temporarily unfit for human habitation‚ due to damage caused by recent floods in KwaZulu-Natal. "The Department of Public Works‚ which is the line function department responsible for the residences‚ is exploring alternative accommodation until the residence has been renovated‚" presidency spokesman Bongani Majola said in a statement.The history of the residence‚ formerly known as King’s House‚ dates back to 1872 when Durban’s Mayor W.M. Palmer welcomed Lieutenant-Governor Anthony Musgrave to Natal and said he hoped His Excellency would "devote some portion of each year of your office to a residence in Durban".Palmer told Musgrave that the town would assist in providing a "marine residence suited to Your Excellency’s state and dignity"‚ according to the presidency website. The mansion was eventually built and on 29 June 1904 Sir Henry Bale‚ the Chief Justice of Natal‚ became the first occupant at King’s House.On 17 May 2012‚ President Jacob Zuma renamed Kings House to Dr John L Dube House‚ after the highly regarded educationist‚ journalist and first President of the ruling African National Congress‚ Dr John Langalibalele Dube.The renaming follows the President’s announcement in his 2012 State of the Nation Address‚ the government’s drive to celebrate‚ preserve‚ restore and promote South Africa’s heritage...