The eThekwini Municipality is expected to complete the Sakhithemba Homeless Shelter in Illovo by November 2026.
Image: eThekwini Municipality
Residents and motorists in Durban will have to navigate the presence of homeless individuals on Che Guevara Road, located under the M4 southern freeway, until the completion of the Sakhithemba Homeless Shelter in Illovo, which is expected by November 2026.
This development comes as the eThekwini Municipality finalises plans for the shelter, which were presented at a recent meeting of the eThekwini Executive Committee (Exco).
Members of the Exco committee have been awaiting this report since November 2025, following a public outcry regarding the deteriorating conditions on Che Guevara Road, previously known as Moore Road, as well as the lower Warwick and Umbilo areas.
The area has seen a significant influx of drug addicts and homeless individuals, who have encroached upon one lane of the road and are often seen abusing drugs in plain sight of passing motorists and local businesses.
The Sakhithemba shelter is part of a comprehensive city-wide response to homelessness in the Durban CBD, initiated by the Safer Cities Unit in collaboration with the Economic Development Unit. Originally approved on August 26, 2024, the project was intended to be a 400-bed facility, with a targeted completion date within the 2024/25 financial year.
Clive Truter, an architect and project manager within the municipality, stated that Sakhithemba was envisioned as a prototype facility for potential rollout across the municipality.
“During implementation, the project scope was significantly expanded to approximately 1,200 beds, together with the introduction of additional operational facilities like a clinic and an industrial kitchen,” he said.
Truter explained that the expanded scope has materially increased the project's complexity, necessitating a phased approach to implementation.
“This approach was adopted to improve implementation efficiency, manage risk relating to contractor capacity, site constraints, and budgetary allowances,” he added.
Currently, Phase 1 implementation is ongoing, with overall site progress estimated at approximately 70%. Phase 2 is also in progress, with site progress at about 60%, while Phase 3 has yet to commence.
Truter further noted that the absence of established municipal norms and standards for facilities of this nature has required ongoing design refinements to accommodate evolving operational requirements.
“The introduction of the on-site clinic and industrial kitchen has had a cumulative impact on regulatory and servicing requirements, particularly in relation to stormwater management, sewer capacity, and environmental approvals,” he said.
He added that as part of the proposed recovery and acceleration strategy, Phase 3 implementation is planned to begin in parallel with the completion of Phases 1 and 2, aiming for delivery within the 2026 calendar year.
“Sakhithemba must not make people feel like they are incarcerated. They will be able to recoup their lives here. This is an inspiring and innovative project with a multiprong approach,” he said.
eThekwini Deputy Mayor Zandile Myeni remarked that the shelter project is a first of its kind, and the city will work through the challenges encountered.
“There are a lot of successes and milestones in the project, which is part of a multitude of programmes we have to deal with the homeless. We need to consider bringing the interfaith leaders onto the platform. The facility is there to assist those who say no more to drugs,” she said.