The eThekwini Municipality has identified derelict buildings in the City that have deteriorated into unhygienic hovels and have become a breeding ground for criminals.
Dr Musa Gumede told EXCO that 87 buildings in the Inner City have been listed as bad buildings, 45 outside the Inner City as well as130 vacant plots and abandoned properties.
Gumede said some of the successes from the profiling exercise of derelict buildings include the following:
- 53 Buildings successfully revitalised;
- Court action taken against Flamingo, Tog Lok, St Moritz and Elwyn Court by Judicial Administrator;
- Tog Lok has been sealed and Hailsmith cleaned and sealed;
- Six buildings were handed to legal services for court action (34 Carlisle Street, 51 Alexander Street, 4/22 Umgeni Road, 126 Russel Street, 275 Yusuf Dadoo Street and 85/87 Bertha Mkhize Street )
According to Gumede monthly joint operations were held targeting illegal water and electricity connections in buildings, undocumented persons and crime in general.
“There are ongoing profiling of buildings that poses health, safety and security risk. The Signage and Advertising Unit has been engaged to post adverts at problematic buildings and a Problem Building bylaw has been drafted,” said Gumede.
Deputy Mayor Nomvuzo Shabalala said the intervention aimed at cleaning up bad buildings in the City was long overdue and a meeting should be convened with the South African Property Owners Association to address the issue.
Human Settlements Committee Chairperson Cllr Nigel Gumede said: “We need to identify some of these bad buildings to house people and address the social housing issue.”
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