Latest news with #SouthlandsSun
The Citizen
4 hours ago
- General
- The Citizen
Ward 64 shack dwellers live among the dead
ANCESTRAL burial sites are traditionally regarded as sacred ground, yet more than 400 people have erected informal homes within Seaview Cemetery in Ward 64, some built directly on top of graves. Also read: Southlands Sun 1 August 2025 The settlement, which has expanded over the past few years, reflects the growing housing crisis and rising unemployment. Despite government efforts to halt the spread of informal settlements, shack dwellers said they are willing to relocate, provided they are moved to nearby land within walking distance of job opportunities in Clairwood. Mzosindiso Mtheli, a resident originally from the Eastern Cape, shared his experience of settling in the Seaview Cemetery. 'When I first moved here, my grandmother was already living in this area. I came to Durban looking for work but couldn't afford to rent a place. Since others had already built shacks in the cemetery, I had no choice but to do the same,' said Mtheli. While he acknowledges that burial sites are traditionally respected, he believes the lack of available land is a major contributing factor. 'There are still families who come here occasionally to pay their respects to loved ones. We understand that burial grounds are sacred, but we had no alternative. This was the only space close enough to our places of employment,' he added. Another resident, Mzwabantu Sokapase, originally from the Eastern Cape, admitted to building his shack directly over a grave. He built his house on top of a grave. Although the tombstone has been removed, he said he has never experienced any supernatural occurrences. Also read: Human Settlements speeds up profiling of Seaview Cemetery families 'Sometimes I wonder what will happen when the relatives of the deceased come here to pay their respects. It would be very difficult for me to demolish my house to allow them to perform their ancestral rituals,' he said. Sokapase said, 'The Human Settlements Department should provide us with housing that is not far from Clairwood, because many of us work in the nearby industrial areas.' A third resident, who asked to remain anonymous, said she has been renting a shack in the cemetery for the past three months. 'The owner doesn't live here. I pay R500 a month because I work in the industrial area nearby,' she said. Graves dating as far back as the 1940s have reportedly been dismantled to make way for the informal homes. In some instances, graves are located inside shacks, and tombstones have been repurposed as supports for makeshift tables. Adding to the dangers in the area, live illegal electricity connections crisscross above the shacks. Also read: Families, children displaced as fire ravages shacks near The Bluff These makeshift power lines are tapped from Telkom poles running along the nearby train station. Despite the presence of exposed wires, residents say no electrocution incidents have been reported. Children as young as five can be seen playing among the shacks, raising further concern about safety and living conditions in the cemetery. Area committee member Mbongiseni Mazibuko said the eThekwini Municipality has provided mobile toilets to the informal settlement in an effort to prevent sewage spills and other health risks caused by unhygienic conditions. 'It is our hope that the government will intervene and assist these people, as they have settled on a burial site. It's unfortunate that they have not been able to secure proper housing. However, their presence here affects the beliefs and practises of families who come to pay respects to their departed loved ones,' he said. According to eThekwini Municipality by-laws, any form of construction or occupation within cemetery grounds is prohibited. MEC for Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma has assigned the head of the department, Max Mbili, working with eThekwini Municipality, to speed up the profiling of these families. For more Southlands Sun news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter and get news delivered straight to your inbox.
The Citizen
2 days ago
- Business
- The Citizen
Operation Good Hope returns to The Bluff
THE Bluff Ratepayers and Residents Association (BRRA) has welcomed the return of eThekwini Municipality's outreach programme, Operation Good Hope (OGH). Deputy chairperson of the BRRA Allison Schoeman said the programme is working on fixing streetlights. Also read: DA takes eThekwini Municipality to High Court over sewage crisis 'The Electricity Department is on Tara Road, assessing what is needed to repair the streetlights on both Tara Road and Club Road. This follows my request earlier this morning (July 29) for this road to be prioritised. 'The team has confirmed that the prolonged outage is due to the underground cables having been stolen. As a solution, they will now explore the use of overhead cables,' said Schoeman. The programme will also focus on tree-cutting challenges on The Bluff. 'Another major obstacle is the overgrown trees along Tara Road. Unfortunately, the person responsible for tree-cutting does not have the resources to assist during OGH this week. I have suggested that, if eThekwini can provide the cherry-picker, we could call on community volunteers to assist with trimming the trees. 'However, this involves a significant red tape due to liability concerns if anyone were to be injured,' she said. Also read: Southlands Sun 1 August 2025 She said the South Durban Basin Area Based Management is looking into alternative arrangements. 'But if any skilled individuals are willing to assist, acknowledging the risks and signing an indemnity in favour of the city, your help would be greatly appreciated. We are therefore calling on our community for volunteers to help us move this forward,' she added. For more Southlands Sun news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter and get news delivered straight to your inbox.
The Citizen
2 days ago
- Climate
- The Citizen
Evacuation drill to sound sirens on The Bluff
Evacuation drill to sound sirens on The Bluff SAPREF Island View Storage will conduct a safety drill tomorrow (July 30) from around 10:00 when sirens will sound at four locations on The Bluff. Also read: Teach your child about fire safety Residents and businesses are advised that the evacuation drill will continue for about 45 minutes. SAPREF Island View Storage fire chief Michael Clarke said this is a routine call and not an emergency response. Residents are asked not to panic when they hear the sirens and to remain calm throughout the testing. Details: Date: July 30 July 30 Time: 10:00 10:00 Duration: 45 minutes For more Southlands Sun news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter and get news delivered straight to your inbox.
The Citizen
4 days ago
- Lifestyle
- The Citizen
Arcadia Retirement Village's R5 frenzy unites community
THE Arcadia Retirement Village was filled with chatter as the crowds of people raked through racks of clothing and shelves of trinkets during a recent R5 jumble sale in support of the home on The Bluff. Also read: Free Masons donate to Arcadia's seniors The village's donation and second-hand hut manager, Mary Tholet, said the sale offered a huge selection of second-hand clothes, kitchen items and trinkets, all priced at R5. 'I believe around 200 people came through and supported the sale. We did manage to raise R3 570, which is an amazing amount. I am so thrilled about it,' said Tholet. The relaxed and friendly atmosphere allowed residents to mingle and bond over which items they should purchase. Tholet thanked the team which helped on the day, from setting up to handling the till to wrapping the items. For more Southlands Sun news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter and get news delivered straight to your inbox.
The Citizen
4 days ago
- The Citizen
Man wanted for rape and robbery at Brighton Beach woman's home
Man wanted for rape and robbery at Brighton Beach woman's home Police in Brighton Beach, south of Durban, have launched a manhunt for a man who raped a 55-year-old woman at her home recently. According to Southlands Sun, police said the victim was at home when an unknown man walked in and demanded cash. After gaining entry, the suspect raped the woman, stole her cellphone and an undisclosed amount of cash, and fled the scene. Police spokesperson for eThekwini District Captain Carmen Rhynes confirms that police are investigating a case of rape. The police appeals to anyone with information to contact the Brighton Beach Police Station on 031 451 8072. Alternatively, you can call the crime stop number: 08600 10111. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on
