Budget for Lower Illovo homeless shelter approved
The relocation of 400 homeless people from the Durban CBD to Lower Illovo will go ahead as planned despite the outcry from the community.
ETHEKWINI Municipality has approved a R13.6 million budget to renovate the Sakhithemba Home in Lower Illovo, converting it into a 400-bed shelter for homeless individuals and drug addicts from Durban.
This decision was made during a full council meeting on August 29.
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While the majority of councillors voted in favour, the DA abstained, calling for a detailed report on how the facility will meet the accommodation needs of its future residents. The DA also raised concerns about the lack of consultation with the Lower Illovo community and local businesses regarding the project.
Gugu Sisilana, the City spokesperson, acknowledged that Sakhithemba had previously served as a halfway house for drug addicts and assured that community consultations would begin now that the project has been approved by the council.
This move is part of the City’s broader initiative to revitalise Durban’s inner-city, which includes relocating homeless individuals to Lower Illovo. Initially, the R13.6 million was earmarked for a new shelter in the CBD, called Block AK. However, the Inner-City Regeneration Committee recommended reallocating the funds to Sakhithemba, citing concerns that a CBD shelter could harm tourism and the city’s image.
A petition with over 2 240 signatures was submitted to municipal manager Musa Mbhele before the August 29 meeting. Bryan Baxter, the petition’s author, mentioned that no response had been received yet.
“We plan to meet with other community members to discuss our next steps. We are not opposed to helping people get back on their feet, but it must be done in a way that ensures the residents’ safety,” Baxter said.
According to eThekwini officials, the shelter will provide a variety of services, including health screenings, feeding programmes, social work support, security and drug rehabilitation. The municipality emphasised that the shelter will also focus on skills development and reuniting homeless individuals with their families, as it is intended to be a temporary solution rather than a long-term residence.
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