Drug addicts have set up shelters outside a block of flats on Douglas Lane in the Warwick Avenue area, Durban.
Image: Supplied
Residents living in a block of flats in the Warwick Avenue Precinct are pleading with the eThekwini municipal officials to remove drug addicts from their doorstep.
Homeless individuals addicted to drugs are occupying the road and pavements on Douglas Lane. They have set up an encampment similar to the Che Guevara Road site that has been a thorn in the side of the municipality.
According to residents, the addicts had been relocated from several vacant plots of land in the Warwick Avenue Precinct, including Milton Road, Acorn Road, and Bentley Street.
It was reported previously that the municipality had conducted clean-up operations on these vacant plots, removed the addicts, and fenced the area off. With nowhere to go, addicts now occupied the pavement alongside a mini-bus taxi rank and two cottages.
A resident living in the block of flats, who wished to remain anonymous, said they feared for their lives.
“Our balcony and room windows overlook the road, and it's an atrocious sight. They consume drugs in full view of us. We fear leaving for work and sending our children to school without being harassed. They are like zombies. There is a bad stench outside,” she said.
A businessman, who also wished to remain anonymous, stated that this situation is detrimental to business, as customers are afraid to come to this road.
“There is a creche across the road. You can imagine the fear parents have when dropping their kids off. These homeless people walk around looking for their next victim to rob. We rely on the passing trade from the bus and taxi rank, and hiring additional security is not profitable,” he said.
The structures are situated in full view of the eThekwini Municipality Urban Renewal Project Centre, where the Inner-city Regeneration and Urban Management Programme (ITRUMP) offices are.
eThekwini Municipality’s spokesperson, Gugu Sisilana, said the vacant property at Douglas Lane has been cleared by the relevant service delivery departments and fenced off.
“The city continues to monitor these areas, and the metro police conduct regular operations to manage unlawful occupation and ensure safety. The municipality is also exploring options to secure the vacant land, subject to budget availability,” she said.
In February 2026, eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba conducted an oversight visit of Che Guevara Road (formerly Moore Road).
Xaba said the municipality is intensifying its structured, multi-sectoral plan to address homelessness through prevention, reintegration, and long-term social support.
“Addressing homelessness requires compassion, partnership, and long-term support. Our focus is on helping individuals reconnect with their families, access social services, and rebuild their lives with dignity,” he said.
As part of its broader response, the municipality is progressing infrastructure initiatives, including the development of the Sakhithemba Homeless Shelter in Illovo.
The facility is expected to provide life-skills development and support programmes aimed at assisting individuals to overcome substance abuse and reintegrate into society.