A tense standoff in Shallcross, Chatsworth, escalated on Monday when a media briefing about the construction of low-cost housing for flood victims was abruptly called off following reports of gunshots fired into the air by irate community members. The incident highlights the deep divisions over the proposed housing project, led by MEC for Human Settlements and Transport Siboniso Duma.
The briefing had been arranged to unveil plans for building homes for flood victims in the area, where many have been living in temporary shelters since the devastating floods of April 2022. The Department of Human Settlements had identified 12 state-owned land portions across KwaZulu-Natal, including four in Shallcross, to construct 4,458 houses for those affected by the floods.
Ndabezinhle Sibiya, a spokesperson for the department, confirmed the shocking development. “More than five gunshots were fired, and some community members advised us to leave immediately. We condemn this intimidation and any violent attempt aimed at halting this project,” Sibiya said. Despite the disruption, he emphasized that the department would pursue charges against the alleged perpetrators.
The department had previously announced plans to build 85 houses on state-owned land in Shallcross, with contractors already appointed to begin the work. MEC Duma stressed the urgency of the project, noting that delaying construction would prolong the suffering of vulnerable citizens and violate their human rights. “Any delay is not only prolonging their suffering but a violation of their human rights and the Constitution,” Duma stated.
However, the proposed housing project has faced fierce opposition from some local residents. The 1000STRONG organization, representing community leaders and residents in Ward 71, expressed their objections, arguing that the area’s already fragile infrastructure couldn’t support such a large-scale project. “Shallcross is currently suffering from severe water shedding. We are surrounded by four overflowing informal settlements,” said Marcus Richards, leader of 1000STRONG. “No one in Shallcross qualifies as flood victims, and there was no public engagement with us to determine this.”
Richards further clarified that while gunshots were indeed fired, they did not come from the community members who were protesting the project. “Our area is a known drug-infested area in Chatsworth. I can confirm that the gunshots were fired, but not by members of the community at the scene where we met with some officials from the department,” he said.
Duma, in response to the objections, emphasized that the department had held multiple meetings with the Shallcross community, including consultations in July and August 2024, where the project had initially been discussed without significant opposition. He also pointed to the completion of environmental impact assessments and town planning applications, stating that all necessary legal processes had been followed.
Amidst the controversy, the province is still reeling from the devastating effects of last week’s floods, which claimed the lives of seven people and left many others stranded. Dr. Elias Sithole, head of the National Disaster Management Centre, estimated the damage to infrastructure in KwaZulu-Natal to be nearing R1 billion.
With tensions high, the situation in Shallcross remains unresolved. While some residents continue to push for housing relief, others fear that the project will exacerbate existing issues like overpopulation and strained resources. As the debate rages on, the future of the housing project—and the lives of those affected by the floods—hangs in the balance.
