GQEBERHA, EASTERN CAPE — What began as isolated individuals seeking refuge is rapidly evolving into established Gqeberha bridge settlements, where vulnerable residents are forming tight-knit homeless communities for mutual protection. While these growing encampments offer essential street safety and support for those living outdoors, local businesses argue the informal structures are negatively impacting the surrounding urban environment.
What was once just a few people seeking shelter beneath bridges has transformed into small, self-sustaining communities. One of the most visible settlements is located beneath the Uitenhage Road and Freeway Bridge in Sydenham. Over the years, it has grown into a community of its own. For many residents, the choice to live under the bridges is not necessarily about having nowhere to go, but rather about staying closer to economic opportunities.
A smaller but growing settlement is also taking shape near the entrance of the city. Residents in these areas are choosing to stay together rather than face life on the streets alone. Individuals have noted that friends and acquaintances are joining the settlements to secure spots before they are potentially evicted. For many, the community has become a vital form of protection, transforming strangers into a supportive family unit.
However, the expansion of these settlements has not been without friction. Nearby businesses and residents report that they are dealing with the consequences of the encampments, noting that the informal structures are affecting the areas around them and occasionally blocking business entrances.
Organizations working directly with people living on the streets note that the trend is shifting toward communal living. The Healing Hands Community Project, an organization that has been operating for 16 years to assist vagrants and street dwellers, says there is a viable solution to accommodate this communal trend, which they believe would help reduce criminality associated with street life.
Representatives from the Healing Hands Community Project state that they are actively looking for a building to house these individuals. The organization has approached the municipality, the mayor’s office, and local councilors to identify a facility where people can stay warm, have a roof over their heads, and receive counseling. They emphasized that not all individuals living on the streets are struggling with drug addiction and can be helped through proper care and treatment.
In response, the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality states that it regularly removes and monitors these sites, though keeping people away remains a significant challenge. Municipal representatives identified the M4 as a major hotspot area. They noted that the municipality has repeatedly fenced off areas behind the M4, only to have the fences removed and the spaces reoccupied.
The municipality cites limited resources as a primary hurdle, explaining that the problem is vast and covers numerous areas, stretching their current capacity. To address the ongoing issue, Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality says it is now researching strategies and interventions utilized by other municipalities facing similar challenges, such as the City of Cape Town.
Meanwhile, as the city researches long-term solutions, these communities continue to grow beneath some of Gqeberha’s busiest roads, presenting an ongoing challenge for both the municipality and local businesses.