Durban's Carlisle Street Refugee/Migrant Tenants’ ‘Shelter’ 2015

Abstract

The Organisation of Civic Rights (OCR) conducted a survey of the tenants of Carlisle Street Refugee/Migrant Tenants’ ‘Shelter’ after some of the tenants were concerned about its imminent closure by the Durban eThekwini Municipality. The inner city of Durban has become a haven for slumlords as it is for poor tenants who are desperate for accommodation and employment. The majority of the respondents were from Zimbabwe, occupying rooms in the main cottage and shipping containers on the property in Carlisle Street, Durban, South Africa. The survey was preceded by brief interviews with few tenants who provided ‘snapshots’ of possible tenures.In addition to establishing the type of tenure, it was important to include questions that would provide demographic information and a concise socio-economic profile. The investigations were to be as objective as possible, notwithstanding OCR’s position against landlords who exploited marginalised, vulnerable tenants. The questionnaires were followed up with second set of questions and several interviews and visits to clarify certain issues and to create a trustful relationship. This report is an analysis of the data and a critical examination of the living conditions of the tenants and of the court application that excluded the tenants, presumably on the grounds that they were ‘lodgers’.