‘No place to hide’: Storms leaves Durban’s homeless scrambling for shelter

Homeless man David Brown said he clinged to his makeshift shelter as heavy rain lashed Durban. Asviolent winds and heavy rain lashed parts of Durban on Easter Sunday, many homeless residents were left terrified and exposed, with little more than cardboard, planks and plastic sheets to shield them from the storm. Those sleeping on pavements and under bridges described scrambling in the dark as gusts ripped through makeshift shelters, sending belongings flying and forcing them to seek safer ground.

With nowhere permanent to go, some huddled together for warmth while others walked the streets through the night, fearing falling trees, flooding and debris as the storm swept across the city. David Brown, who has lived on the streets for over a decade, told IOL that the weather quickly turned dangerous. “It started slowly. You could hear the raindrops on the roof.” He said his mjondolo’s (informal shelter) plastic structure offered little protection.