Lower Illovo residents oppose reopening homeless shelter near primary school

RESIDENTS of Lower Illovo, south of Durban, have raised strong objections to the reopening and upgrade of the Sakhithemba Homeless Shelter, which is located close to the local primary school.

- SIPHESIHLE BUTHELEZI

Community members claim they were not consulted about the upgrade of the 400-bed facility and say the shelter poses safety concerns. Meanwhile, the eThekwini Municipality has defended the project and said that security and support measures are in place.

Corrie Dagenaar, a local resident, said the shelter is being constructed less than 20 metres from the Lower Illovo primary school and within a residential area. “They're building it right behind the primary school in Lower Illovo, where the old Illovo factory was. There's a community there, and right behind that facility is the school,” he said.

Dagenaar said the community had a negative experience when a similar shelter was temporarily opened in 2008. “The municipality brought about 45 people to the site. Even though it was just 45, it affected the community very badly. There were robberies and muggings.”

He said residents only became aware of the current project after construction began.

“The community wasn't involved in the planning. It went ahead without consulting the community, the religious leaders, or businesses. Nobody knew. This was passed in August 2024 and construction began around January.”