Residents living along Durban’s North Beach say safety and health concerns remain unresolved, despite the eThekwini Municipality’s recent statement that an operation was conducted to remove unlawfully established informal dwellings in the dunes.
The issue first came to the fore earlier this year after a woman was robbed and injured while walking along a footpath between the dunes. The incident sparked outrage among residents and beach users and prompted the DA Ward 26 PR councillor, Sharmaine Sewshanker, together with Metro Police and other law enforcement agencies, to conduct an operation aimed at restoring safety in the area.
Following that intervention, the municipality confirmed that informal structures near Suncoast Casino had been removed. However, residents argue that the problem has not been fully addressed and that other settlements remain hidden deeper within the dune system.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Springfield Weekly Gazette was invited by concerned residents to witness what they allege are additional informal settlements, some of which they claim have been in place for more than three months. During the visit, journalists were given a bird’s-eye view from the rooftop of Courtleigh Heights flats, revealing clusters of makeshift structures not easily visible from the promenade.
According to residents, these settlements were reported to the authorities even before those near Suncoast Casino were dismantled. They allege that when law enforcement embarked on operations, only the structures closest to the casino were targeted, leaving others untouched.
“The dunes are steep, and the settlements are cleverly hidden,” said one resident. “You won’t see them while walking along the promenade, but from the rooftops it’s very clear that people are living there.”
Beyond safety concerns, residents have raised serious health and environmental issues. They claim that fires are regularly lit inside the dunes, destroying vegetation and producing thick black smoke that drifts into nearby residential buildings.
“The smoke is unbearable at times,” said another resident. “They burn large fires inside the dunes, and it affects everyone living close by. It’s not safe, and it’s not healthy.”
Residents are now urging the municipality and law enforcement agencies to conduct thorough and sustained operations, ensuring that no settlements are left behind. They argue that the city’s statement declaring the area safe is premature and inaccurate.
They also dispute assurances that operations would be conducted on a daily basis, saying activity inside the dunes continues to be observed almost every day without any visible law enforcement presence.
“People are still moving in and out of the dunes daily,” a resident claimed. “If there are daily patrols, we are not seeing them.”
The ongoing situation has once again highlighted the broader and complex issue of homelessness in eThekwini, which many residents say appears to be never-ending. While acknowledging the humanitarian nature of the crisis, residents insist that public safety and the protection of key tourist areas cannot be compromised.
In a previous statement, the municipality said it is developing a long-term, sustainable and humane strategy to address homelessness in the city. “This includes assisting individuals living on the streets, while ensuring that unsafe and unsuitable public spaces are not illegally occupied,” the statement read.
For residents along the beachfront, however, words are no longer enough. They are calling for consistent enforcement, accurate public communication and visible action on the ground,before another incident puts lives at risk.
Sewshanker confirmed that informal structures were still being erected in the dunes. “Residents are regularly sharing images and videos of structures and fires and Metro is aware of the situation.”
Sewshanker criticised the city for failing to implement sustainable solutions to the growing homeless crisis, saying there was little political will to address the issue. “Public safety should not be ignored, even though Sakhitemba homeless shelter in Illovo is still under construction, it will not accommodate the thousands living on the streets.
She questioned why enforcement only intensified after serious incidents, such as the recent robbery and attack, and urged residents to report emergencies to 031 361 0000.
