Durban businesses crippled by crime surge as homelessness spirals out of control

SEVERAL business owners have called on the eThekwini Municipality to address the growing number of homeless people in the CBD precinct, claiming it is negatively impacting their businesses.

The business owners, operating in the area stretching from Dr Yusuf Dadoo Street (formerly Grey Street) to the Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse, allege that many of the homeless people were relocated from Albert Park during a recent clean-up campaign led by the city, Metro Police, and the South African Police Service (SAPS).

They also blame the rise in homelessness for a spike in crime in the Durban CBD, which has led to a drastic drop in customers for them. 

Ahmed Mohamed, a business owner along Dr Yusuf Dadoo Street, told the Daily News that his clothing business had suffered due to the increased presence of homeless people near where he operates his business.

"People are now scared to come to our shops because these homeless individuals are often seen roaming the streets and mugging pedestrians. This has hurt my business badly. We urge the municipality to step in and address the issue," said Mohamed.

Mohamed, who has been operating in the area for over 20 years, said his once-thriving business has taken a serious knock amid the rise in homelessness.

"I’m struggling to stay afloat. I’m even considering closing the shop for good. I’ve already had to lay off some staff because business is so bad," he said.

He pleaded with the city and law enforcement agencies to intensify efforts to combat homelessness, which he believed had contributed to the city's surging crime rate.

"If the city continues to go easy on these individuals, we’ll never win the fight against crime. Tackling crime begins with addressing the homelessness crisis," added Mohamed.

On Tuesday, the Daily News visited several locations where homeless people, including children, were gathered near a filling station near the Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse.

They all declined to talk to the publication.

An employee at the filling station, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed concern about the area's high crime levels, attributing the problem to the nearby homeless population.

"It's no secret that crime here is linked to the homeless people who linger outside our station. Some customers have told us they’re afraid to stop here," said the employee.

Another businessman, Musa Mkhize, who runs a restaurant specialising in traditional African cuisine, said the situation was very “worrying”. 

“This is very worrying for us. We are basically on a knife-edge as the business people operating in the Durban CBD, because this issue of homelessness is affecting us badly. Customers are turning to other businesses located in safer areas,” said Mkhize. 

A 2014 survey conducted by Statistics South Africa and the Denis Hurley Centre revealed that approximately 16000 homeless people live in and around Durban.

According to crime statistics for March in Durban, compiled by Blue Security, the city recorded 71 burglaries, 105 incidents of common theft, and 17 armed robberies.

In April, eThekwini Municipality unveiled an ambitious plan to rejuvenate the city, which included tackling the issue of homelessness and crime.

The initiative, led by City Manager Musa Mbhele, aimed to create a safer, cleaner, and greener Durban. It included deploying professional security teams, armed patrol units, and rapid response squads.

“This project is a game-changer for eThekwini. By combining enhanced security measures with proactive facilities management, we’re not only addressing immediate safety and cleanliness concerns, but also laying the foundation for a vibrant and sustainable inner-city precinct that residents can take pride in,” said Mbhele at the time.

Sicelo Ngcobo, a member of a community policing forum (CPF) in the Durban CBD, described the ongoing efforts to manage homelessness as a “cat and mouse” struggle.

“It’s very difficult for us to address the issue because when we remove the homeless from one area, they quickly relocate and settle somewhere else,” Ngcobo said.

The Daily News sent a list of questions to the city regarding the challenges faced by business owners in Durban, but had not received a response by the time of publication.

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