RESIDENTS of North Beach are reeling in anguish over unsightly homeless shelters, fearing further decline in property values, opportunistic crime, and a TB outbreak.

The eThekwini Municipality had promised to decommission the Jewish Club Shelter by this year. Last week, one tent out of six was removed, leaving scores of dwellers still on the premises.

In a letter written by the North Beach Residents Association (NBRA) to the City, the residents highlighted the City’s failure to remove the campsite, citing identified environmental health risks.

“The municipality confirmed in April that the site would be decommissioned, and occupants would be relocated. It’s been five months, and the relocation process has not been completed, and this is concerning given the approaching festive season and year-end season,” the residents said.

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NBRA emphasised that it supports the call for urgent and humane resolution of the matter, including provision of suitable alternative accommodation, and the decommissioning of the existing site.
eThekwini Municipality spokesperson Senzelwe Mzila explained that the campsite was established on an emergency basis to accommodate homeless people during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The eThekwini Municipality is progressively relocating residents from the shelter to the facility based at Block AK. The first group of residents was relocated on 20 and 21 April 2026, followed by a second group on 24 September.

“There are currently six marquees remaining at the site, accommodating approximately 143 people. The municipality is in the process of finalising the relocation of the remaining residents, after which the site will be decommissioned,” Mzila said.

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He added, “The relocation process requires intensive co-ordination and implementation, with the support and involvement of various sister departments within the municipality. This includes ensuring that appropriate arrangements are made to facilitate the relocation of residents in a safe and orderly manner.”

The municipality appealed to residents to exercise patience while this process is being finalised. It reassured the residents that it was working to fast-track the relocation process while ensuring that residents are not displaced without appropriate alternative arrangements being put in place.

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