eThekwini’s Seaview Cemetery has become home to more than 400 people, with some families erecting shacks directly on top of graves, prompting urgent intervention calls from KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma.

The shocking situation in Ward 64 along Coedmore Road has raised serious concerns over land use, dignity of the dead, and the growing desperation of the unhoused in the metro.

On Sunday, the Head of the Department of Human Settlements, Max Mbili, was asked to fast-track the profiling of families currently residing in the cemetery.

Duma said, “Cemeteries are sacred places where the dead must be allowed to rest in peace.”

He acknowledged the complex dynamics behind the occupation of the cemetery, including urban migration and a shortage of housing and land.

 “While we understand that people are moving from far-flung areas to eThekwini in search of socio-economic opportunities and that there is a shortage of houses and land, we call on communities to respect the departed souls,” said Duma. 

Duma highlighted that this is not a new issue. After 1994, the democratic government under Nelson Mandela prioritized the construction of houses for the community, focusing on families who had lived in the area since 1981. 

In the early 2000s, the late KZN MEC for Housing Dumisane Makhaye, former MEC for Housing Mike Mabuyakhulu, former eThekwini Mayor Obed Mlaba, and Nigel Gumede, then Chair of the Human Settlements and Infrastructure Committee, oversaw the relocation of residents to newly built homes in Welbedacht, Chatsworth.

“It is unfortunate that despite having relocated communities, some came back to the area and others built new informal settlements in the same area,” said He also noted the challenges in developing housing on available land. 

“Meanwhile, we will continue to engage with Ratepayers Associations representing people living around state-owned land where we are prevented from building houses for the needy communities.”

To respond more effectively, the Department is launching three research studies. These will examine the total number and housing needs of households living in graveyards such as Seaview Cemetery, those facing eviction from privately owned land, households in disaster-prone rural and informal settlements, and farm dwellers. 

The studies will be conducted in collaboration with the Moses Kotane Research Institute, the National Home Builders Registration Council, Stats SA, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, and the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs.

Duma confirmed, “This research will be done in collaboration with Moses Kotane Research Institute, National Home Builders Registration Council, Stats SA, Council of Scientific Industrial Research, and Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs.”

In addition, the Department has selected the Greater Kokstad Local Municipality as the pilot site for the Agri-Village program, which brings together the Department of Land Affairs and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The project aims to improve the living conditions of farm dwellers through the provision of decent housing, water, electricity, access roads, and economic opportunities.

hope.ntanzi@iol.co.za

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