Thousands of residents from the Shaka’s Head informal settlement face the prospect of being relocated to Vlakspruit Farm, about 15km from Ballito.

This follows a Pietermaritzburg High Court ruling last Friday, granting KwaDukuza Municipality (KDM) an eviction order against illegal occupiers of municipal land that had been set aside for service delivery projects.

However, the court ruled that the eviction may only take place once the municipality has provided basic services at Vlakspruit Farm. The farm is inland of Shakakraal, off the Glendale road.

Until then, the court suspended the execution of the eviction order until such time that the municipality submits a report setting out the steps it has taken to ensure that the eviction meets the requirements of a just and equitable order.

KDM spokesperson, Sifiso Zulu, said the ruling was a major victory after long legal battles since 2023.

“The illegal occupiers were represented by social and economic rights lawyers who had initially rejected Vlakspruit as alternative accommodation,” said Zulu.

“This judgement reinforces the importance of upholding the rule of law while ensuring that people are not left homeless.”

He said the municipality would now work with its legal team and relevant departments to ensure that the relocation process is fair and humane. The occupied land, located on the P445 near Ballito, had originally been earmarked for a public high school or clinic. During the Covid-19 pandemic, it was taken over illegally and since then the number of shacks has grown to nearly 1 000.

Abahlali baseMjondolo, the shack dwellers’ movement representing the residents, said they were not opposed to moving but wanted proper services in place first.

“We will move once KwaDukuza Municipality meets the conditions set by the court. We hope we won’t need to connect water or electricity illegally and that we can live peacefully at Vlakspruit,” said local chairperson Ongama Mncameni.

Abahlali baseMjondolo had previously led a thousands-strong march to Ballito in September 2024 in protest of the initial eviction order.

The Dolphin Coast Residents and Ratepayers Association (Docrra) welcomed the ruling, saying it balanced both legal and humanitarian concerns.

“This judgment upholds the rule of law while addressing the need for safe housing and basic services. We are engaging the municipality on the rollout of services at Vlakspruit and the future development of the Shaka’s Head site,” said chairperson Deon Viljoen.

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