Over 100 shack dwellers living in Clairewood have been left with no shelter to cover their heads after eThekwini Municipality’s Land Invasion Unit demolished their homes, which some have lived in for more than three years, in uMhlatuzana informal settlement.
Mothers with children allege that they were told to evacuate their home or else it will be destroyed with them inside. Some of the residents also alleged that they lost personal belongings such as cash, cellphones and their furniture which they say disappeared during the demolition process.
According to residents, demolitions started last week Tuesday with over 50 homes hit with pangas, leaving a man wounded. It continued again on Friday, 15 October, just after the residents rebuilt their shacks. The residents allege that the men and women from land invasion came unexpectedly. “We were expecting the councillor to come with the Department of Housing to take down a list of people in need of proper houses. Instead these people with no remorse came to destroy our homes,” said one of the residents.
They alleged that Ward 64 Councillor, Gavin Hegter, had promised to meet with them at 9am on the same Tuesday but he never showed up. Norman Dlamini, 65, who has lived in the area for over three years, said when he first built his shack he constructed it near the uMhlathuzana River bank, and a few months back was told to move it away from the bank as it was not safe for him, especially with the ever-changing climate and heavy rains. “The councillor said I can move closer to the road where I will be safer. In January this year I started construction on the new plot and have lived there since. Last weekend, the councillor came to the site and told everyone who had been told to move to stay where they are, however, he would not allow any new construction,” said Dlamini.
He said that he never expected for his home to be destroyed as he was following an instruction from the councillor. Seated next to the wreckage of what used to be his home, with his bed and other furniture buried under, Dlamini sadly said he does not know what to do, whether he should rebuild temporarily or not. The residents said they are failing to understand why their homes are being destroyed. “If building on this plot of land is illegal, then why did the councillor provide us with water tanks and a communal tap? He also gave us toilets, which were later removed with no explanation,” questioned the residents
They said that since the toilets were removed they have been using one long-drop toilet among approximately 50 of them and the water tanks have been left empty for over three months. “How are we supposed to keep ourselves clean and safe, especially in these Covid times?” the residents further asked.
They said they would take the risk and rebuild, just for them to have a place to sleep in the night and if the land invasion department comes back to demolish they would keep rebuilding every night. On Thursday, 21 October, the residents also confirmed further demolitions on Saturday, 16 October, and again on Tuesday, 19 October. The eThekwini Municipality spokesperson, Msawakhe Mayisela, said: “The issue of land invasion continues to be a serious problem for the City. We are trying everything possible in our power to ensure that land invasions are prevented within the ambits of the law.”
He said while doing that the municipality will not derive any joy from demolishing structures that are occupied and that are built legally, nor would the City maliciously damage property. “This is the same City that continues to provide decent housing to millions of people for free, some of whom have been living in shacks and have never been homeowners. This is a clear demonstration that the welfare of the poor continues to be our priority.”
In regards to uMhlathuza informal settlement, Mayisela said: “Our Land Invasion Unit did attend to the area and illegal structures were demolished. The land in question, according to our records, belongs to the City. It is incorrect that our members assaulted illegal invaders. Anyone who has evidence to the contrary is urged to bring it to the City or open a case with the police.”
Mqapheli Bonono the Deputy President of Abahlali baseMjondolo, a shack dwellers’ movement, confirmed that he did meet with the residents of uMhlatuzana Informal Settlement and advised them to unite and dispute the demolitions as they were done illegally. “What happened in uMhlathuzana was illegal as there was no court order presented before the residents. The residents should unite and open charges against the land invasion department. We will be assisting them in every way possible, however, we have advised them to open those cases and come back to us,” said Bobono.
