Homeless crisis back in spotlight after Durban CBD shack settlement dismantled

The plight of Durban’s homeless community has once again been thrust into the spotlight after eThekwini Municipality mayor, Cyril Xaba, visited a settlement of homeless people living along Che Guevara Road (Moore Road) in the Durban CBD late last week.

The group, who have been residing on the pavement for several months, used the opportunity to raise concerns about the daily challenges they face, including lack of accommodation, safety issues, alleged human trafficking of homeless people and claims of harassment by police.

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“We appreciate that the mayor is here and he sees our faces, we also need him to hear our stories. The COVID-19 lockdowns taught us that anyone could find themselves displaced. This is the reality for us. Many of us want to reclaim our lives and contribute positively to society,” said 37-year-old Sheldon Zungu, who has been homeless for seven years.

Zungu added that interactions with law enforcement have often been difficult.

“The fact that police can question and harass homeless people outside of shelters shows that there is a lack of understanding of the factors that surround homelessness. We hope that this is the first step in building a rapport with the municipality,” he said. During his visit on Wednesday, February 18, Mayor Xaba called on stakeholders to partner with the municipality in tackling homelessness. He said the city’s approach includes working closely with civil society organisations, churches, businesses and activists, such as Ayanda Msweli, to help reintegrate homeless individuals with their families and communities. “The approach of removing homeless people in groups may not be the best solution, as they require individualised attention. This will help ensure that they do not return to the streets. Addressing this problem begins with one person choosing to change,” said Mayor Xaba.

However, just days later, on Friday, February 20, municipal departments and law enforcement conducted a clean-up operation on Che Guevara Road, removing makeshift plastic shacks that had encroached onto the roadway and restoring cleanliness in the area.

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Founder and director of Women and Men of Valour, Jennifer Fisher, said homelessness is often misunderstood. “If you take a closer look at homeless people, you realise that they are complex individuals. Many of them are very educated and have just fallen on hard times,” she said.

Fisher urged the municipality to consider using vacant buildings in the city as shelters and to invest in skills development, psycho-social support and employment opportunities to help homeless people rebuild their lives.