2 days ago
Seatides shack dwellers protest against demolitions
Tensions flared in Seatides last week as residents of the informal settlement accused the municipality of repeated demolitions and delays in delivering promised housing.
Residents are up in arms over what they describe as ongoing harassment by the eThekwini municipality.
According to residents, 65 homes have been demolished by the municipality over the last month, resulting in two protests that disrupted traffic along the M4 between the settlement and Casuarina Beach.
The demolished structures largely belonged to victims of the 2021 floods, who were temporarily accommodated at the Tongaat Town Hall. When it became clear that a permanent housing solution was taking longer than expected, some residents returned to Seatides. Unable to rebuild on their original plots, they settled on nearby vacant land, effectively expanding the settlement.
'Now, after four years, the municipality comes and demolishes these homes. Even those simply trying to extend their existing shacks were targeted. My child is now 31 years old, how can we still share the same tiny room I built 20 years ago? If I tried to add another small room for privacy, they would demolish it,' said resident Mageu Dlomo.
Dlomo said a meeting with municipal officials had been scheduled for last Friday but officials did not arrive, calling the no-show deeply disrespectful.
'We wasted our time and money travelling to the hall, hoping to discuss the way forward. Instead, we were ignored. Next thing, they will be here shooting rubber bullets and firing tear gas at us,' he said.
Residents say Seatides informal settlement has existed for decades and claim they have been promised housing projects numerous times, only to watch people from other areas benefit instead.
'We do not know what is happening with the housing projects they promised us. Years ago, they told us not to build more shacks. They gave us water and electricity and said houses were coming. But to this day, nothing has happened.'
Municipality spokesperson Gugu Sisilana did not comment on last Friday's meeting, saying the Seatides protest was discussed extensively during a previous meeting at City Hall attended by Ward 58 councillor Geoff Pullan, municipal officials, and the Seatides committee in July.
'During the meeting, the Seatides committee committed to halting any further land invasions and agreed to allow the security management unit's land invasion team to monitor the area. This is the information the City can provide at this stage,' said Sisilana.
Councillor Pullan confirmed there was a meeting in July but said he was unaware of any agreement reached.
'My understanding was that there was going to be another meeting last week, which officials did not attend. However, we are going for another meeting this coming Friday and we hope everyone will be there and an agreement can be reached,' he said.
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