Durban political parties pledge action on homelessness

Political parties have promised homeless dwellers an intervention should they assume office in the 2026 Local Government Elections.

The sentiments were shared during a political dialogue between the (ANC), (DA), (EFF), and the uMkhonto weSizwe party (MK) at the Denis Hurley Centre in the Durban CBD yesterday (October 15). The aim of the dialogue was to understand the needs of the homeless community in the city of eThekwini, to get their input in the decision-making process, and how best the government could help meet their needs.

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Delivering the Homeless Manifesto on behalf of the homeless individuals, Msizi Buthelezi said that they had identified five key areas which required intervention from the incoming leadership to ensure that homeless citizens enjoyed their rights as enshrined in the country’s constitution:

• Demand that government-owned buildings be utilised by public and private organisations for temporary accommodation.

• Provision of healthcare by ensuring that the city-based health services are sensitised to the needs of the homeless through the provision of mobile clinics to improve access and by removing obstacles that prevent homeless people from obtaining this assistance.

• Sanitisation- By recognising the huge shortfall in the provision of free, clean and open facilities for ablution.

• Equal treatment under the law by holding accountable Metro Police and Municipality-funded private securities who breach the rights by replacing the laws with those that are restorative and developmental.

• Increase economic opportunities by acknowledging that homelessness in South Africa is fundamentally an economic problem and most people who want to work can do so by doing local economic development and job creation programmes to ensure that the person can benefit from that.

He said that the specific demands for each municipality might vary, but the overall demands in relation to the above five areas were consistent.

The DA’s councillor for Ward 66, Zoe Solomon, said that she had written notices of motion to council to bring their attention to the issue of homelessness and that the points made in the homeless manifesto were similar to those raised by herself in council, however they did not pass.

“I would hope and pray that I have the ability to have more majority to pass the things that I really need because I absolutely have it on paper.”

The EFF’s Thabani Miya, the party’s PR Councillor and Member of the provincial command team, said that the Homeless Manifesto was a replica of the party’s manifesto and touched on issues they had previously raised.

“The toilets are there. You just need a political will from the ruling party to ensure that those toilets are renovated and opened 24 hours so that they cater for the homeless.”

He said that they had been putting motions around this issue, however the matter has been neglected.

“Unfortunately, we do have influence in eThekwini as the EFF, however influence becomes redundant when you do not have control and people who have control as the majority is the African National Congress.

“What we are saying is that we’re ready to govern so give us absolute majority so that the things you are saying, which are a replica of the EFF manifesto, will be realised.”

MK Party assigned Professor Thamsanqa Mkhize, the Provincial Governance and Advisory Head of the organisation, who said that the proposed measures were practical in their implementation and called for the rehabilitation of six public buildings for shelter.

Mkhize said that they would create opportunities in the EPWP programme, and also open skills training centres for the homeless to gain different skills.

Municipal Speaker Thabani Nyawose and representative of the ANC said they were making the necessary moves.

“Since 2021, there are 320 people who were homeless but are now back at homes and structured – we support NGOs and churches.

“There are 30 people who have been trained to be plumbers and got NQF level 3 in plumbing through the ANC and the municipality. Thirty can do bricklaying. Taken from the streets and empowered. Some are hired in hotels.”

He said that through their academic department, 100 people are being trained.

Nyawose dispelled the notion that the City’s homeless lot would be compelled to go to the Sakhithemba Homeless Shelter in Illovo south of Durban, adding that it was optional but would benefit the homeless through shelter and skills development opportunities offered.

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