More than a decade after a fire destroyed their homes, 40 Shaka’s Head families are still living in crumbling tin shacks with little municipal support.

The North Coast Courier reports the group was relocated to land adjoining Shaka’s Head alongside the R102 and given tin houses by the KwaDukuza Municipality (KDM).

The families were relocated after fires destroyed their homes in 2011 and they say promises for assistance have been broken.

Residents claim municipal staff told them this would be a temporary measure and allege that nothing further was done to improve the situation until the Courier reported on the issue in 2015.

Following the article, KDM provided electricity to the group, and Tamsyn Ferreira from Alifurn Outdoor Living fundraised for a container toilet and standpipe to help with sanitation, which were installed by community volunteers.

Despite assurances that their cases were a priority, residents say the municipality has remained silent on further improvements.

“Before, KDM would check on us whenever it rained. But I cannot even remember the last time they came,” said a resident who asked not to be named.

“No one has spoken to us in years. Our tin houses are falling apart, and in some, water leaks inside.”

The donated toilet block is also now in complete disrepair, worsened by the additional pressure from 15 more families relocated to the area after another fire in 2023.

KDM did not respond to a request for comment.

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