According to city documents, the eThekwini Municipality has a backlog of more than 440 000 houses to build.However, between 2016 and 2019, the managed to only build an average of 4 000 houses per annum.

This means at the current pace it is building homes; it would take the City more than 100 years to clear the backlog if it had included building the infrastructure around the houses.

“Many people will die before they even realise their right to housing,” Desmond D’Sa, a south Durban community activist, said.

Guest on the line: the honourable MEC for Human Settlements and Public Works, Mr Ntuthuko 'Jomo' Mbongiseni Sibiya MPL