THE Durban Point area is set for a multi-billion revamp to transform it into an industrial business hub.
Mxolisi Kaunda, Mayor of eThekwini, broke new ground last week on a R250 million 4.1 kilometre steel pipe that will run across Mahatma Gandhi and Anton Lembede Roads.
The pipe will supply water to two new multi-billion Rand skyscrapers that will be built close to the new promenade.
The pipe is expected to be completed in 18 months while dates for further projects are still to be announced.
Kaunda said Point Road has long held a reputation of being a drug den and a hub for crime, prostitution and all other nefarious activities.
“You can’t have a lawless society where people can just run drugs as if there is no government in South Africa. We are here, we are governing this city and we must exert our authority through legal means,” he said.
Kaunda said the city aims to make Durban the premier port city in Africa and revealed an animated video of what the central business district would look like after the completion of the projects.
Last year, eThekwini destroyed derelict buildings in the city and Kaunda intimated that there might be more buildings destroyed if their owners do not rehabilitate them.
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“We directed officials to begin work on the feasibility of establishing a community service centre within this (Point) precinct which will serve as a shared facility bringing social services much closer to the community and ensuring a permanent presence of law enforcement within the precinct,” said Kaunda.
The issue of Point Road cannot be divorced from the prevalent homelessness and poverty in the city which is why Sipho Nzuza, Durban’s City manager, said the city is looking at securing facilities to house the homeless.
“Big cities do attract a lot of homeless and unemployed people” he said. “We can’t just treat these people as if they are animals, we need to make sure they are provided with food, a place to sleep and employment opportunities.”
Nzuza also addressed the issue of the city returning R309 million back to the national treasury after failing to spend it on vital development projects.
The city attributed the underspending to several delays being caused by business forums who demanded a slice of the business.
“If we are going to be allowing anarchy to take over our projects this is what we are going to be experiencing. We are not saying people who want businesses should not be entertained but there are processes,” said Nzuza.
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