Lower Illovo residents protest homeless shelter revival

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20-05-2025
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South Coast Sun
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The shelter was originally to be built in the Durban CBD but the council later decided on Lower Illovo.

RESIDENTS of Wards 97 and 109 are ramping up their opposition to the reopening of the Sakhithemba Homeless Shelter in Lower Illovo. The eThekwini Municipality is upgrading the facility into a 400-bed halfway house intended to support homeless individuals and those recovering from substance abuse.

Situated on the P197 road in Ward 109, adjacent to Lower Illovo Primary School, the R13.6m project is still under construction. Once completed, it will offer temporary accommodation along with health screenings, meals, social work support, and drug rehabilitation services, with the goal of eventually reintegrating residents into their communities.

A similar initiative proposed for Durban’s CBD was cancelled following concerns about its potential impact on tourism and the city’s image. In contrast, residents of Lower Illovo say they were caught off guard by the revival of the Sakhithemba facility.

Although the shelter was originally established years ago and is appropriately zoned, community members insist that updated public consultations should have been conducted. In 2009, the Young Men’s Christian Association operated the site as a halfway house for drug addicts, but later abandoned it due to a lack of funding.

Residents of Lower Illovo and Amanzimtoti claim they were excluded from the decision-making process regarding the shelter’s reopening. A petition submitted to the municipal manager last year has reportedly received no response.

Austin Gounden, chairperson of the Lower Illovo Neighbourhood Watch, expressed fears about a potential rise in crime.

“We believe in helping others, but not like this, not in our community,” he said.

Resident Dineshni Govender raised concerns about the shelter’s proximity to the primary school, saying it could pose a safety risk to learners. eThekwini executive committee member, André Beetge, acknowledged that while the site is zoned for such a facility, the community should have been notified of the project revival. Despite construction already being underway, municipal spokesperson Gugu Sisilana said public consultations are still planned. A community meeting open to Wards 97 and 109 residents will be held on May 25 at 14:00 at Lower Illovo Primary School to discuss the issue and chart a way forward.