eThekwini residents build shacks on cemetery graves
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, said some residents erected shacks directly on top of graves.
Duma said that on Sunday, he instructed the Head of the Department of Human Settlements, Max Mbili, to work with the municipality to expedite the profiling of families living at the cemetery on Coedmore Road.
He reminded residents that the democratic government under Nelson Mandela prioritised housing construction in the area shortly after 1994.
'Priority was given to families who had lived in the area since 1981. It is unfortunate that despite having relocated communities, some came back to the area and others built new informal settlements in the same area,' Duma said.
Around 2000, officials relocated families from the cemetery area to new homes in Welbedacht, Chatsworth.
These officials included the late KZN MEC for Housing, Dumisane Makhaye, former MEC for Housing, Mike Mabuyakhulu, former eThekwini Mayor, Obed Mlaba, and Nigel Gumede, former Chair of the Human Settlements and Infrastructure Committee.
Duma acknowledged that people migrate to eThekwini in search of socio-economic opportunities due to housing and land shortages, but stressed the need to respect burial grounds.
'Cemeteries are sacred places where the dead must be allowed to rest in peace. We call on communities to respect the departed soul,' he said.
The Department of Human Settlements continues to engage with Ratepayers Associations regarding state-owned land where housing projects face delays.
According to The Citizen , Duma confirmed that the department is conducting comprehensive research into housing needs across four priority groups: Households living on privately owned land facing eviction
Households in rural or informal settlements in disaster-prone areas
Households living in graveyards, such as Seaview Cemetery
Farm dwellers
The research will involve institutions such as the Moses Kotane Research Institute, National Home Builders Registration Council, Stats SA, CSIR, and the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs.
While research continues, the department has identified the Greater Kokstad Local Municipality as the pilot site for the Agri-Village programme.
The initiative, involving the Department of Land Affairs and the Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, aims to improve living conditions for farm dwellers by ensuring access to decent housing, water, electricity, roads, and socio-economic opportunities.
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1
Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
an hour ago
- IOL News
March on March Movement to Take Legal Action Against Illegal Occupants of RDP Houses
KwaZulu-Natal Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma addresses rising concerns over the illegal sale of RDP houses in KwaZulu-Natal, urging community cooperation to combat criminal activities and protect vulnerable families. Image: File The March on March movement is preparing to launch legal proceedings against illegal occupants of RDP houses in Inqutu, northern KwaZulu-Natal, following reports of hijackings affecting the properties of two elderly women. The organisation's spokesperson, Xolani Zuma, emphasised that this intervention was crucial in protecting the housing rights of South African citizens. "These homes, part of the government's Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP), were created to assist individuals in need." Zuma stressed the importance of ensuring that these provisions were not exploited. 'The movement will be writing to the MEC on Monday to escalate the matter, which was first reported to the police on Friday during our march,' he explained. In conversations with the affected women, the movement learned how their homes were overtaken, a situation amplified by the involvement of illegal immigrants allegedly collaborating with some South African citizens. 'We are alarmed by this blatant disregard for our elderly citizens,' said Zuma. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Ndabezinhle Sibiya, spokesperson for KZN's Department of Human Settlements, confirmed the troublesome criminal conduct in the community. 'We have received a complaint from March on March, and we are fully committed to working alongside them and various communities to root out such criminals. It is illegal to sell RDP houses, and we are taking strong action,' Sibiya affirmed. The MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, said in a recent statement, that his department was committed to decisive action against any form of criminality that disrupted the lives of innocent community members. 'We are building houses for South Africans who are in need of shelter, not for the generation of profit by greedy and irresponsible individuals,' Duma said. Encouraging public support, he called on the people of KZN to unite in a visible display of disapproval against the misuse of RDP houses and warned off repercussions for the perpetrators. 'It is a criminal offence to sell an RDP house within the first eight years of ownership without proper permission from the Department of Human Settlements. Those who violate these rules will forfeit their houses.' Duma reassured the community that his department will rigorously collaborate with law enforcement to ensure stability within human settlements. He reiterated the procedure for beneficiaries looking to sell their properties after the eight-year threshold, emphasising the department's responsibility to manage these units effectively for the benefit of those in need. Duma affirmed the department's commitment to work alongside prominent bodies, including the South African Human Rights Commission and the Public Protector, in ensuring every complaint regarding the illicit use of RDP houses was thoroughly investigated and actioned. The influx of illegal and undocumented immigrants into the country has been rife and a cause for concern for authorities. During a media briefing yesterday, the Border Management Authority's (BMA) commissioner, Doctor Michael Masiapato, revealed that approximately 10,000 illegal immigrants were intercepted by border guards in the first quarter of 2025/26. Masiapato stated that out of the 10,000 illegal immigrants arrested, 5,826 were undocumented, 2,127 were inadmissible, and 2,001 were deemed undesirable.
IOL News
a day ago
- IOL News
Celebration in Durban: Coedmore Bridge reopens after devastating floods
DA councillor Andre Beetge proudly points to the newly reopened Coedmore Bridge in Yellowwood Park, Durban. The bridge was washed away during the April 2022 floods. Image: Supplied In a moment of triumph for the residents of Yellowwood Park and surrounding areas in Durban, the Coedmore Bridge has officially reopened to motorists more than three years after its devastating destruction during the catastrophic floods of 2022. The completion of this essential infrastructure project, confirmed by DA councillor Andre Beetge, marks a significant step towards restoring connectivity and normalcy for the local community. Beetge, a member of the eThekwini executive committee, was present on Friday to witness the first cars cross the newly constructed bridge, which boasts a price tag of R47 million. 'According to our knowledge, the R47 million bridge is complete and ready for use although clean-up and tidying operations will continue,' he revealed in an interview on Saturday. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ The first person to cross the bridge from the Sarnia Road side was DA candidate Norman Gilbert, he said. Beetge recounted the significant disruption and disorder caused by the destruction of the bridge. Coedmore Bridge in Yellowwood Park in Durban was washed away during the April 2022 floods. Image: File picture This bridge was vital as it offered direct routes between Yellowwood Park and Sarnia Road in Seaview, as well as access to Edwin Swales, he said. 'In the absence of the passageway, residents were forced to use Kenyon Howden Road into South Coast Road or other longer and more congested routes. It also detracted from easy access to retail nodes in Montclair and Queensburgh with added travelling time,' said Beetge. Pictures showing what Coedmore Bridge in Yellowwood Pak, Durban looked like before and after the April 2022 floods. Image: File picture Motorists enthusiastically honked their horns as they drove across the newly upgraded bridge, which now features two lanes and pedestrian walkways, a scene captured in a video posted on Beetge's Facebook page. 'Jubilation is an understatement. We have not seen so much joy since the ban of the mask post Covid as people hooted and waved... Joy beamed from their faces and one resident in particular crossed the bridge no less than three times just to make sure he wasn't living in a dream,' he stated. Beetge himself said he is 'absolutely elated' over the completion of this project as it was met with one challenge after another. He noted that geo-technical challenges resulted in unanticipated blasting as well as more flooding, as well as the original contractor incurring financial constraints. 'This caused completion to be delayed from December 2024 to the first car passing on 1 August, after a session in the contract was negotiated,' he said. Former eThekwini mayor Mxolisi Kaunda conducted an oversight visit to assess the progress of the reconstruction of Coedmore Bridge in Yellowwood Park, Durban. A sum of R48 million was allocated to the project. Councillor Andre Beetge says the total cost upon completion is R47 million. Image: Supplied Beetge stated that the delays unfortunately led to the councillor becoming a scapegoat, facing victimisation from frustrated residents. 'In the end, it was really worth the wait as the new bridge is a modern double carriageway that should serve the residents for a long time to come,' he said. Last year, eThekwini's former mayor, Mxolisi Kaunda, visited the site and announced that the new state-of-the-art 90m-long bridge was being built using cutting-edge integral bridge technology, which is expected to lower maintenance expenses. He said the project also included the construction of a 150m road leading to the bridge, implementation of traffic-calming measures, and installation of improved surface drainage systems.
The Citizen
2 days ago
- The Citizen
KZN department to crack down on illegal RDP house sales
KZN human settlements has vowed action against individuals selling RDP houses to illegal foreign nationals. The KwaZulu-Natal department of human settlements has promised to act firmly against individuals selling RDP houses to illegal foreign nationals. The department has received complaints from community members and councillors about people selling RDP houses built by the department. 'In particular, there has been a groundswell of complaints about the sale of RDP houses to illegal foreign nationals in various parts of the province,' MEC for transport and human settlements Siboniso Duma said on Thursday. Beneficiaries selling RDP house to illegal foreign nationals Representatives from the March and March movement also sent the MEC a letter asking him to intervene in the issue. March and March is a non-governmental organisation campaigning against the employment of undocumented foreign nationals in South Africa. The MEC said he would act firmly against any forms of criminality in the interests of innocent communities. ALSO READ: Activists, unions welcome SIU's investigation into corruption in the City of Mbombela 'We are building houses for South Africans who are in need of shelter, not for the generation of profit by greedy and irresponsible individuals,' Duma said. He called on the people of the province to stand with the department in publicly denouncing this 'irresponsible and greedy' act. 'For the record, as the department, we will never turn a blind eye to complaints and expressions of anger against the use of RDP houses for illegal activities such as selling drugs and hideouts for hit men and other criminals,' the MEC said. Houses can't be sold within first eight years of ownership without permission Selling an RDP house within the first eight years of ownership without permission from the department is a criminal offence. Those who are doing it will forfeit their houses. According to the Housing Amendment Act, the department of human settlements should be contacted by any beneficiary who plans to sell an RDP home during the eight years. The department will inherit the property and work with the municipalities to hand it over to a qualifying member of the community on the waiting list. ALSO READ: Department of human settlements warns of online house scams 'We undertake to work with the South African Human Rights Commission, Public Protector and Auditor-General of South Africa on this matter,' Duma said. 'We want to account for every cent to South Africans and to show public accountability.' The department said it would work with law enforcement and urged anyone with information about the illegal sale of RDP houses to use the following call centre numbers: • WhatsApp: 060 1055505 • Toll-free: 080 005505
