As such, the city is preparing for its relocation. At a media briefing last week, Nxumalo said the Isipingo Transit Camp was created in 2009 as a transit facility for people who had to be moved from different areas for a variety of reasons.
About 370 families were moved from KwaMnyandu station informal settlement for the upgrade of Umlazi Sports Complex ahead of the 2010 Soccer World Cup. There were further relocations of about 150 families from Dakota Beach who were affected by floods and storm disasters of 2009. Other beneficiaries were moved from Bayhead, Hillary, J-Section Umlazi, Umbilo and Solomon Mahlangu Drive. There were also invasions by people from surrounding informal settlements.
“Currently there are 750 families residing in the camp. As the leadership of this municipality we have acknowledged living conditions in that camp are not humane, as we have realised the area they were relocated to is unsuitable, due to damages during heavy storms. It is clear these families have to be relocated to a better place. Last week the municipality commenced with preparatory work for relocation,” said Nxumalo.
“The municipality is presently engaging with residents about plans for their relocation and pieces of land have been identified for feasibility assessments. The municipality is engaging with Isipingo residents and report-back sessions are ongoing. A development committee to discuss development matters with the municipality has been formed by residents. Sensitive and life-threatening cases are being identified for immediate relocation to projects with vacant sites.
As a matter of principle, the municipality has taken a firm decision to do away with transit camps in the city and this forms part of our top priorities. We will be launching new housing technology to fast-track the process of delivering houses to our people. We will use this method, in the first instance, to target the eradication of transit camps.”
Nxumalo also spoke on Cato Crest and Kennedy Road settlements.
He said the municipality is facing a huge challenge of urbanisation due to migration, which has resulted in the mushrooming of informal settlements, which has added to the current housing backlog.
He also said a number of people who move into eThekwini with the hope of quick access to houses and economic opportunities have resulted in the upsurge of land invasions.”The Land Invasion Unit has had to deal with a number of cases of people who have attempted to occupy pieces of vacant land with the hope to force the City's hand into providing houses and services ahead of others.
Ethekwini has adopted a zero tolerance approach to land invasion. “We will no longer tolerate the mushrooming of new informal settlements and will utilise legal processes to stop the construction of new shacks and invasion of state property. For people living in existing informal settlements, we will continue with delivery plans, including the provision of water, electricity and sanitation.”
Dakota Beach informal settlement in Isipingo Beach is left to grow without any concerns from eThekwini. What sense does it make to remove people from Dakota when others move into Dakota replacing those and continue the cycle of informal settlement. Crime has increased with these settlements and beach safety is a major issue.