Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane, Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma and eThekwini mayor Cyril Xaba visited flood victims in Durban this week.
Image: Sibonelo Ngcobo Independent Newspapers
A government plan to build homes for 2022 flood victims in Shallcross has sparked fierce resistance from local residents, who argue that their suburb’s already strained infrastructure cannot accommodate additional housing.
The department has identified state-owned land in Shallcross to construct 85 houses for flood victims. However, many residents are pushing back, citing concerns over existing service delivery issues, overcrowding and a lack of community consultation.
“I think it’s great that the government is finally taking some responsibility,” said one Shallcross resident.
“But the way they’re going about it is unacceptable. They want to build on all the parks. You can’t be cramping people into areas with already stretched resources when there’s so much vacant land elsewhere.”
Community leader Marcus Reed Richards, said that Shallcross is already struggling with the delivery of basic services.
“The main concern about the housing development is that the current infrastructure cannot sustain any further development,” he said.
“Water shedding is a major issue, and all four identified sites are in areas that do not have daily access to tap water.”
Richards also disputed claims that the government had engaged with residents before finalising the project.
“They claim to have engaged with the public, but it was not widespread or transparent enough,” he said.
Shallcross, he added, is still dealing with the aftermath of the April 2022 floods, which worsened infrastructure challenges.
“Upper Shallcross had water for only 150 out of 365 days in 2022. Policing is underfunded, and we have one clinic serving 25 000 people, including the surrounding areas. We also have four informal settlements around Shallcross, and they, too, face water issues.”
The land identified for the project, he added, is also important for environmental and community well-being.
“The areas demarcated are the only open recreational spaces, (developing on the sites) goes against the grain of the Presidential Committee on Climate Change.”Despite their opposition to the current plan, he added that residents were not against housing being developed for flood victims.
“There are ample open tracts of land bordering Shallcross that can accommodate flood victims,” said Richards.
“We do not oppose this. We are saying we ourselves are victims of gross negligence on the part of eThekwini, to whom we pay exorbitant rates for dismally poor services. How can you then subject these new residents to go through the same?”He added that Shallcross has a history of inclusion and co-operation.
“We have been living in harmony with four informal settlements for 30 years. We took care of each other after the floods and looting. We are all South Africans.”
Despite the backlash, Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma has defended the project, saying the state has a constitutional obligation to provide housing.
“The mobilisation of communities against the building of houses in certain areas is tantamount to reintroducing the Group Areas Act,” he said in a recent statement.
He also dismissed claims that low-income housing would devalue property, stating that “there is no scientific proof of this argument”.
Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane also urged residents to show compassion.
“Even if you shun people, this is not the hour,” she said. “They are squeezed here in small apartments with families. It’s a circumstance that we all have to deal with. These are vulnerable people; they are human beings, and their rights are enshrined in the Constitution.”
The flood victims who were displaced from the Lamontville transit camp are staying at the Impala Holiday Flats in the Durban CBD.
Image: Sibonelo Ngcobo Independent Newspapers
However, Shallcross residents argue that their objections are based on fairness and governance, not discrimination.
“We are aware that the PAJA (Promotion of Administrative Justice Act) protects us from unlawful, unreasonable, and procedurally unfair discrimination,” said Richards.
“We argue that due diligence and proper stakeholder engagement were not satisfactorily done.”
Richards said residents have engaged with ward councillors, the Department of Human Settlements, the Mayor’s Office, and other role players to foster open dialogue.