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eThekwini faces mounting pressure over delayed homelessness report
For years, Che Guevara Road in Durban has remained at the centre of concern over homelessness in the city. Makeshift shelters under the M4 southern freeway. Encampments close to traffic. Repeated cleanups followed by the return of displaced individuals.
Now, frustration has shifted from the roadside to the council chamber.
At a recent Executive Committee meeting, criticism mounted against the eThekwini Municipality after a promised report on homelessness failed to materialise. The report, initially expected in early December 2025, has been delayed by three months. That delay has intensified debate within the municipality.
A crisis in plain sight
Che Guevara Road, formerly Moore Road, links the Port of Durban to the city centre. It is a vital transport artery. It has also become a focal point in the city’s long-running struggle with homelessness and substance abuse.
Municipal officials have attempted to manage the situation for more than a decade. Cleanup operations have been conducted. Metro police have been redeployed. Trucks have been diverted to clear encampments. Yet displaced individuals often move to nearby areas, only to return shortly after.
DA councillor and Exco member Andre Beetge described the situation as both a humanitarian and urban management crisis. He criticised what he called reactive interventions that lack long-term planning, arguing that without a credible strategy for relocation, support, and rehabilitation, the cycle will continue.
His call for Exco members to visit the site drew criticism from opposition parties. Some councillors declined to participate in the proposed oversight visit.
The Sakhithemba solution
At the centre of the municipality’s strategy is the Sakhithemba Homeless Shelter in Illovo, currently under construction.
Once completed, the facility is expected to accommodate up to 800 people. It will be managed by a non-governmental organisation and, according to the municipality, will provide more than just beds. Plans include social services programmes, psychosocial support, counselling, life skills development, and family reunification and reintegration initiatives, as well as skills training and job readiness support.
Deputy Mayor Zandile Myeni confirmed that two reports are ready and are expected to be presented at the next Exco meeting. An oversight visit to inspect construction progress at Sakhithemba is also anticipated.
Politics and accountability
The debate has also exposed political divides within the municipality.
IFP chairperson Mdu Nkosi noted that the DA has previously accused the municipality of relocating homeless people to the outskirts of the city. Nkosi said he would not visit Che Guevara Road and did not provide a reason. ANC councillor Nkosenhle Madlala framed homelessness as a broader societal issue, stating that multiple government roleplayers must address the push and pull factors drawing people to city centres. He added that work is being done daily to address the homeless issue.
For now, attention turns to the next Exco meeting, where the long-awaited reports are expected to be tabled.
If the Sakhithemba facility becomes operational as planned, it is expected to form part of the municipality’s broader approach to addressing homelessness in eThekwini.
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: Family Promise
