Concerns over illegal settlement infrastructure upgrade unfounded, says KDM

Despite appearing to sanction infrastructure provision for illegal settlers in Sheffield, the KwaDukuza Municipality (KDM) has confirmed its position on evictions remains steadfast.

At a council meeting on January 27, concerns were raised about funding seemingly designated for implementing services at the Sheffield settlement.

“I find it very concerning that the Sheffield Manor informal settlement has been included in the proposed upgrades. The municipality is still engaged in court proceedings with the residents of this settlement and as such, no upgrades should be tabled until the legal proceedings have finalised,” said Ward 22 councillor, Privi Makhan.

The upgrades referred to are part of the the National Upgrading Support Programme (NUSP), a national project that intends to upgrade refuse collection, sanitation, water and electrical infrastructure in 63 municipalities countrywide.

Informal settlements have been identified for upgrades in each municipality and these will be undertaken in a three-phase process.

Once the process is complete, settlement residents should have security of tenure and access to fresh water and electricity.

In KwaDukuza, 16 informal settlements have been identified.

They are San Souci, Ohlange, Ntwashini, Lindelani Extension, Shaka Springs, Dump Site, Hillview, Nyoni ya Manzi, Murugans, Mpongompongweni, Shayamoya, Mawowane, Emadanishini, Hangoes, Umgababa and Sheffield.

The inclusion of Sheffield raised red flags, but KDM spokesperson Sipho Mkhize said the confusion arose because of the way municipal housing budgeting works.

“Initially, when this budget approval process occurred in 2019, the funds were destined for the upgrade of homes in the Sheffield area for families who had been living there since before 1995. These families have since been moved to homes in Melville, and if the funding (R29-million) is granted, it will go towards an already planned mixed use development on the site of the current illegal settlement,” Mkhize said.

The budgeting was earmarked as mid-term, but no specific timeframe has yet been established. It is dependent on when national funds become available.

Mkhize confirmed that KDM’s ongoing court process with the illegal settlers must run its course, but the municipality intends to evict them should the court rule in the municipality’s favour.

The Sheffield Manor settlement raised controversy after shacks first began to appear in 2019, bordering upmarket properties and sought-after real estate.

Shacks were initially demolished, but since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, evictions have been outlawed by government.

Section 70 (1) of the Disaster Management Act reads, “A person may not be evicted from his or her land or home or have his or her place of residence demolished for the duration of the national state of disaster, unless a competent court has granted an order authorising the eviction or demolition.”

The most recent count of units in the settlement was 167, undertaken as part of NUSP mapping in 2020.

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