AMID the City’s ongoing homeless crisis, the eThekwini Municipality is pushing ahead with plans to expand the availability of shelters and rehabilitation services across various municipal regions “to strengthen support systems and reduce repeated displacement”.

This is happening as areas such Morningside and Berea are seeing an influx of homeless people seeking shelter at local parks and streets, leading to increased calls for more law enforcement and operations to clean hotspot areas.

“I have  stressed this to senior management in the city that these interventions need to be ongoing,” said Ward 27 councillor Ernest Smith.

He said the city needs to build sizable homeless shelters coupled with stringent oversight, management and substantially resourced to cater for homeless individuals to go to.

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“This approach should assist those who are destitute as well as begin to ease the growing frustration among ratepayers and minimise the strain on Metro Police resources, but with everything, this requires political will to accomplish,” said Smith.

In response to the need of shelters, municipal spokesperson Gugu Sisilana said the city has three temporary shelters in operation, namely Strollers, Block AK, and Jewish Centre. These shelters will be decommissioned once the Sakhithemba Homeless Shelter facility is completed.

“The Municipality acknowledges that law enforcement interventions alone cannot sustainably address challenges related to homelessness and substance abuse,” said Sisilana.

“As such, law enforcement operations are implemented alongside provincial Department of Social Development interventions aimed at providing support, care, and long-term solutions for individuals living on the streets.”

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Through the Safer Cities Directorate, the Municipality is also engaging directly with homeless individuals affected by these operations. “In parallel, a comprehensive, long-term strategy is being developed to address homelessness and drug abuse in a humane and sustainable manner, while ensuring that public spaces are not illegally or unsafely occupied,” said Sisilana.

Once completed, Sakhithemba Homeless Shelter in lower Illovu will provide decent and dignified accommodation to 1200 individuals over the age of 18. The shelter will function as a transitional support centre, offering medical care, psychological support, social services, and access to development.

“These efforts are supported by ongoing collaboration between the Provincial Department Social Development, and the following directorates from eThekwini Municipality; eThekwini Safer Cities, Health, Human Settlements, and law enforcement agencies to ensure a coordinated, multi-disciplinary response,” said Sisilana.

She added, “Regular law enforcement patrols and monitoring will continue to prevent the re-establishment of unlawful structures and criminal activity in cleared areas.”

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