The Democratic Alliance (DA) in eThekwini is deeply concerned by yet another delay in the presentation of the long-awaited municipal report on homelessness a matter that has become increasingly urgent amid growing public frustration across communities in the central, southern, and northern parts of the city.
During the recent Executive Committee of Council (EXCO) meeting, the Security & Emergency Services Cluster indicated that the report, previously requested from the Safer Cities Department, was still not ready for consideration.
This comes despite EXCO having directed that the document includes a clear breakdown of the number of homeless individuals across the municipality, as well as the city’s short, medium, and long-term strategies for screening, accommodating, rehabilitating, skilling, and reintegrating vulnerable individuals back into society.
The absence of the item from the circulated agenda, followed by the sudden explanation that the draft lacked sufficient details, raises serious concerns about the municipality’s readiness and willingness to engage meaningfully with a crisis that has escalated significantly over the past several years. Homelessness is not a new challenge in eThekwini, and the DA believes the administration should have had no difficulty consolidating its fundamental responsibilities into an updated and comprehensive submission.
While coordination across clusters is important, it cannot be used as an excuse for repeated inaction, particularly when communities are demanding clarity on the city’s plans and capacity to respond.
The DA remains sceptical that a coherent, results driven strategy exists at all.
The pattern of postponements and vague assurances suggests that the municipality has not prioritised this socio-economic emergency, choosing instead to offer superficial commitments in the absence of substantial planning.
This latest delay is one of many indicators that eThekwini is not ready for yet another festive season, a period that traditionally places even greater pressure on city services, safety structures, and social support systems.
As previously proposed, the DA continues to advocate for a collaborative approach involving other spheres of government and the utilization of buildings already made available by KwaZulu Natal Public Works & Infrastructure as alternative accommodation.
This practical, partnership driven solution stands in stark contrast to the city’s current reliance on a single facility still under construction in the south, an approach wholly inadequate for the scale of the challenge and reflective of decades of poor governance decisions.
The DA calls for urgent transparency, a definitive timeline for the finalization of the report, and a comprehensive plan that demonstrates a genuine commitment to addressing homelessness in eThekwini.