Umbilo calls for urgent action on drug abuse and homelessness crisis

The Umbilo Business Association said the zone cannot become a constructive, multi-faceted, and thriving port precinct and cultural hub if drug addicts and the homeless are not removed from the M4 southern freeway, near Albert Park, in Durban. 

The eThekwini Municipality is under relentless pressure from motorists, businesses, and the DA to clear drug abusers from Che Guevara Road, previously Moore Road.

In a statement on Facebook, the Durban metro police said they were getting to the bottom of the drug problem that has caused drug addicts to build makeshift tents that encroached on one of the lanes, obstructing traffic on Che Guevara Road and the Albert Park area.

This thoroughfare leads to the Durban Port and CBD. 

The development of the Sakhithemba Homeless Shelter in Illovo is designed to provide more than just housing, with a focus on:

• Life-skills development and support programmes. 
• Assisting individuals to overcome substance abuse. 
• Structured pathways for reintegration into society. 

On Thursday, eThekwini Mayor Councillor Cyril Xaba conducted an oversight visit to Che Guevara Road.

Xaba emphasised that the city’s approach is centred on “lawful, humane, and sustainable” interventions, but noted that the success of these efforts relies heavily on the willingness of families to participate in the reintegration process.

“Police have committed to monitoring the precinct to curb crime, drug, and traffic violations,” the municipality stated. 

On February 9, 2026, Durban metro police arrested two men believed to be drug dealers supplying drugs to the vagrants. 

Doran Subiah, chairperson of the UBA, said that the association presented a constructive, multi-faceted vision for Umbilo, but that vision is impossible while the gateway to the suburb remains “a lawless, filthy, and dangerous zone”, and while the basic utilities required for commerce remain unreliable.

Xaba is expected to give an update on key developments affecting the city at the Durban City Hall on Sunday. The briefing will address interventions to address homelessness.

On Friday, for the third time, the municipality cleared the area and removed the vagrants. However, they returned within a few hours. 

“The association and the ratepayers of Umbilo have raised the alarm on this crisis for years. We are the ones who, through our taxes and business operations, quite literally sustain the economic fabric of this precinct and provide employment that is the difference between life and death for so many families. Yet, our legitimate concerns have been consistently met with inaction, deflection, and, at times, what we can only describe as disingenuous engagement.” 

Subiah was concerned that the city did not provide a timeline for when the Sakhithemba Shelter would be ready. He said the road surface beneath the M4 bridge and along Che Guevara Road has become almost impassable.

“This crisis is compounded by the presence of undocumented foreign nationals, many of whom are exploited by criminal elements. The stormwater drainage systems across Umbilo are chronically blocked and neglected, leading to frequent flooding that damages properties and disrupts traffic.

“What is the timetable and budget for a professional, permanent restoration of our roads and a comprehensive clean and repair of all stormwater drains in the Umbilo precinct?” Subiah stated. 

zainul.dawood@inl.co.za