A group of homeless people living on vacant municipal land in North Beach say they have nowhere else to go, while residents and local councillor Sharmaine Sewshanker are calling for the area to be cleared over safety and by-law concerns.
The group of seven men and women has been living on the fenced municipal property behind the Monyleux Men’s Shelter for more than two years. They claim they were recently approached by Durban Metro Police and a private security company and instructed to leave the site.
Their presence came under scrutiny after North Beach residents noticed increased activity on the property and alerted authorities, raising concerns about people occupying the vacant land.
Ward 26 Democratic Alliance PR councillor Sharmaine Sewshanker recently visited the site to assess the situation and met with the occupants.
She said while she sympathised with their circumstances, the occupation of municipal land could not be allowed.
“I personally visited the site and spoke to the group. I advised them that they need to vacate the property because it belongs to the municipality and the relevant by-laws have to be enforced,” said Sewshanker.
She explained that no one is permitted to occupy public land illegally and warned that failure to leave could result in authorities carrying out a forced removal.
Sewshanker said residents have raised concerns about the occupation of the site and want the land cleared, fearing it could become a safety and security risk for the surrounding community.
However, the homeless group insists they are not causing any problems and are simply trying to survive.
They told Sewshanker that Metro Police are aware they have been living there and that they are not involved in criminal activity or disturbing the community.
One of the occupants, Thando, said the group spends its days collecting recyclable materials to earn an income and only returns to the site to sleep.
“We are not criminals. During the day we collect waste for recycling to make a living. We bathe under the tree when we can and eat whenever we get food. We have nowhere else to go,” he said.
The group also pointed out a leaking water pipe that supplies the nearby Monyleux Men’s Shelter. They said they use the clean water flowing from the damaged pipe to bathe, adding that the leak has been running for some time and requires urgent repair to prevent further water wastage.
The group also alleged that a recent attempt to remove them resulted in some of their belongings being burnt.
They claim clothing, personal documents, including identity documents, and recyclable materials they had collected were destroyed in the fire.
According to the group, they have tried seeking accommodation at shelters but have been told there is no space available.
Despite their plight, Sewshanker maintained that the occupation of municipal land is unlawful and encouraged them to leave voluntarily before enforcement action is taken.
The situation has once again highlighted the difficult balance between enforcing municipal by-laws, addressing residents’ concerns about public spaces, repairing ageing municipal infrastructure and finding sustainable solutions for Durban’s growing homeless population.
