The issue of homelessness in eThekwini is a dire concern, prompting the Safety, Security, and Emergency Committee to recommend the council to find long-term solutions for housing the homeless.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the city temporarily housed homeless individuals in tent shelters in the Greyville area and on Molyneux Road on the South Beach. However, these shelters have raised concerns among residents about the increase in crime and declining property values.
North and South Beach councillor Sharmaine Sewshanker, the Democratic Alliance’s PR council, said that about 18 000 homeless people lived in the inner City stretching from Blue Lagoon to the Point Waterfront.
“Many have become homeless due to unfortunate circumstances, such as losing their homes to fires, dealing with unscrupulous landlords, family disputes, or escaping abusive relationships,” she said
Sewshankercriticised the lack of a municipal policy to manage homelessness, which has left law enforcement with limited options for addressing homelessness in public spaces.
The eThekwini Municipality proposed transforming the Sakhithemba Home in Lower Illovo into a 400-bed facility to accommodate some of the homeless population. This former Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) halfway house is currently being cleared of overgrowth, and the city plans to renovate it using R13.6 million redirected from another project.
“The facility will provide health screening, social services, security, and drug rehabilitation, with the aim of eventually reuniting rehabilitated individuals with their families and communities. The facility is not intended for permanent residence; homeless individuals will stay there for a maximum of six months,” said Sewshanker.
However, this proposed solution has not been well-received by the residents of lower Illovo. The residents, including those near a primary school, an orphanage, and a temple, fear that housing the homeless in the area could lead to problems. They claim that they are “worried” about the lack of job opportunities for the homeless after rehabilitation, potentially resulting in a return to the streets and an increase in crime and drug use.
The City’s plans came as a shock to the homeless living in the tent shelters. Speaking to the Springfield Weekly Gazette, they said that nothing had been told to them about the facility in Illovo.
One person living at the the Greyville shelter said: “Illovo is so far. What will happen to the people who have found temporary jobs in the City and on the beach front? Many of us will be back on the streets. This is not a solution at all. We will suffer even more,” he said.
Gugu Sisilana, the eThekwini Municipality spokesperson, confirmed that the plans to rebuild Sakhithemba as a homeless shelter are still a proposal and has not yet been finalised.
Sisilana said the facility was chosen because it was used for the same purpose in the past. “The community has not been consulted since there is no council approval at this stage. Communities will only be consulted once there is council approval to proceed with the proposal to rebuild Sakhithemba as a homeless shelter.”
In the Safety, Security and Emergency Committee report of its 25 July meeting, on the issue of alternative facilities to cater for the CBD area, there was an indication that it would be resolved therough the “better buildings programme” earmarked to refurbish old buildings.
At the executive committee level, the DA spoke on the need for a more comprehensive report detailing how would the facility address the accommodation needs of both genders, the concerns related to water supply, sewer, and the current non-operational nearby pump station.
Meanwhile, the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) raised concerns about the voluntary presence of individuals on the streets who could possibly have stable housing options. The party wants a thorough profiling done to ensure that only those with a “genuine need” be accommodated.
The IFP proposed that the municipality strengthen its bylaws to properly manage homelessness with the emphasis of prioritising ratepayers’s needs, focussing on crime prevention and to maintain cleanliness.
At the same time the African National Congress (ANC) said that the primary goal for economic development was to ensure the safety of visitors during their stay in eThekwini.
At today’s (Thursday, 29 April) full council meeting, the recommendations will be presented for approval.
