Durban - Mount Vernon residents are still angry over the occupation of the former Hillary Scout Hall, in Baywater Road by squatters.
In April 2018, the eThekwini Municipality had transported a group of about 100 people illegally occupying a piece of land in Mount Vernon to the hall after the landowner evicted them.
The hall was built in 1957 and previously occupied by the Hillary scout group.
Samantha Windvogel, ward 65 councillor, said there were currently 12 people living in the hall - four men, three women and five children.
The hall was also in a dilapidated state.
A set of portable toilets was provided to the squatters but has since been removed causing disdain among neighbours. There is also no electricity and water supply to the hall.
A resident, who did not want to be named, said that the Department of Health needed to be contacted urgently because he claimed residents were putting human waste inside packets and throwing them over the fence.
"Is this right? Has the health department been contacted and when are they coming out," an irate resident had complained to Windvogel.
According to an email to Windvogel, the acting district head for the area said the hall was handed over to the eThekwini Real Estate department over two years ago.
He said that the Parks and Recreation Department was not responsible for its operations and maintenance. Further, he said that nobody was given permission to make use of the hall.
Mandla Nsele, acting head of communications at the municipality, said an inspection of the facility revealed that there are seven families still living on the property.
"Most of the occupants have apparently moved out some time ago. According to one of the occupants interviewed, the initial persons in occupation of the premises were relocated from Mount Vernon by the former Councillor Mthembu," he said.
Nsele was concerned about the connection of electricity illegally which put the occupant's lives at risk.
"This has been reported the relevant unit. A day and night security guard has been installed on the property to ensure that no other people access it without permission, especially after the remaining families have left,” Nsele said.