eThekwini officials demand action on homeless encampments near Albert Park

An urgent call for the immediate removal of a large homeless encampment, dubbed a "tent city", along Che Guevara Road (formerly Moore Road) was made during an eThekwini Executive Committee (Exco) meeting on Wednesday.

DA Exco member Councillor Andre Beetge demanded swift intervention from municipal officials to address the plight of motorists and businesses impacted by hundreds of homeless individuals who have encroached onto traffic lanes under the M4 highway near Albert Park.

Beetge highlighted the location's significance, connecting the Port of Durban and the city centre via Margaret Mncadi Road, and also noted similar issues under Connaught Bridge in Durban North.

“They are causing chaos. They are not moving. We have moved them from inside Albert Park but they have not departed from the verges and pavements outside of the park. They make motorists uneasy by knocking on their windows. They have deterred customers away from the Umbilo area. The businesses have reached out to us for help.”  

Deputy Mayor Zandile Myeni acknowledged the gravity of the situation, describing it as “bad” despite efforts from the Durban metro police and the safer cities division.

“We need to find a way to decrease the number of homeless people. We are working on a policy to deal with the homeless,” she said.

eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba said whenever the police disperse the homeless, they simply move to another spot nearby. He blamed it on a collapse and breakdown at family level.

“When it happens, the problem falls on the municipality. We cannot wait for other government departments to intervene. We have to do something,” he said. 

Dumisani Bhengu, director of the eThekwini Security Management Directorate, told informed Exco that homelessness is also prevalent on the beachfront dunes and in Durban North near Virginia.

Bhengu identified drug addiction among the homeless around Albert Park as a key underlying problem, though he noted police are consistently monitoring the area.  

Thabani Mthethwa, DA Exco member, requested immediate action be taken on Wednesday to have the homeless removed from occupying the traffic lanes.

“Something must be done between this meeting and the next. We cannot have them as they stand with shacks in the middle of the road. Disperse them from there. We are concerned about their human rights but what about the rights of the innocent law abiding citizens? They also need to be defended,” Mthethwa urged. 

zainul.dawood@inl.co.za