Premier must act decisively over Four Seasons Hotel invasion by MK Vets

14 June 2021

The Democratic Alliance (DA) today calls on KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Sihle Zikalala, to personally intervene following the recent invasion of Durban’s Four Seasons Hotel by MK Veterans (see here).

The DA’s appeal comes after newly-appointed Human Settlements MEC, Jomo Sibiya, assured members of KZN’s portfolio committee that the issue of housing for MK Vets was under control. Clearly this is not the case.

While the DA is saddened to see people sleeping outside in harsh winter conditions, acting outside the law is not the solution.

Regrettably, the current situation at the Four Seasons Hotel is the result of an accumulation of a host of errors by the ANC-led government, which have now led to an unfortunate and unnecessary problem.

For years, the DA has been calling on government, both in eThekwini and the province, to act on its many buildings that have been lying unused and abandoned, particularly within Durban’s Central Business District (CBD). Yet, to date, no action has been taken.

By utilising this space in the inner city and converting buildings into liveable and healthy spaces for both student accommodation and Social Housing for rent, the pressure on the housing backlog would be eased and there would finally be a start in reversing the negative impact of Apartheid Spatial Planning.

The DA has also repeatedly called on KZN’s ANC—run government to take a strong stand on the matter of so-called MK Vets who keep invading properties that do not belong to them. To make matters worse, many of these ‘vets’ have been found to have been born in the 1990’s, making them far too young to have fought during the struggle. The reality is that many of them are opportunists holding the province to ransom.

With the invasion of Aloe Ridge in Pietermaritzburg several years ago, the DA warned that if government did not take action when it came to the matter of illegal occupations, they would create a climate of lawlessness which would cause ongoing problems in KZN.

The DA expects the Premier to take a stand once and for all against MK Vets that continue to break the law and to stop being paralyzed by his concerns of being challenged for the position of provincial Chairperson.

Above all, the Premier must make a commitment to the people of our province that he will ensure that the law is upheld and not allow anarchy to reign free.

Statement issued by Martin Meyer, MPL, DA KZN Spokesperson on Human Settlements, 14 June 2021