As part of the eThekwini Municipality’s City Regeneration Programme, a joint enforcement operation was carried out on Monday, 20 July 2026, at 44 Lancers Road in the Durban CBD. The operation targeted a building believed to be occupied illegally.
The operation included the South African Police Service (SAPS), Durban Metropolitan Police Service (DMPS), Human Settlements Department, Social Facilitators, eThekwini Fire Department, Building Inspectors, Water and Sanitation Unit, Electricity Unit, Durban Solid Waste (DSW), Strategy Unit, IT Support, Security Management Unit, and the Health Unit.
The area was secured so that officials could identify the people living in the building and inspect the condition of the property.
The purpose of the operation was to enforce municipal by-laws, inspect the building for safety risks, improve compliance, and help restore law and order in the city.
The operation also marked the first use of the Durban Metropolitan Police Service’s new Smart Policing equipment. Body-worn cameras and Personal Digital Assistance were successfully used during the operation. The technology helped improve safety, support police operations, and record activities on the scene.
The City Regeneration Programme aims to make the inner city cleaner, safer, and more attractive by dealing with illegally occupied buildings, reducing crime, and improving the quality of life for everyone.
The Durban Metropolitan Police Service will continue working with all municipal departments and law enforcement agencies to build a safer and better city for all.
