The charred remains of homes highlight the urgent need for safer living conditions in informal settlements.
Tensions are high at the Jika Joe informal settlement in Msunduzi following a Saturday night fire that claimed at least two lives.
While the Msunduzi Municipality and disaster management teams coordinate relief for the 427 households affected, local leaders have called for a shift in response strategy.
Ward 33 councillor Suraya Reddy said tensions on the ground are high due to uncertainty.
“We’ve had continuous march-to-march, continuous incidents of foreigners being hurt and chased. We’ve had continuous incidents of looting, destruction, intimidation, and interference,” Reddy said.
