Council votes against motion to deal with derelict properties
The municipality has voted against a new strategy for dealing with derelict buildings in suburbs.
eTHEKWENI Council has voted down a motion to change its strategy in dealing with derelict buildings within the metro.
According to Ward 33 councillor Nicole Graham, a motion proposing the city improve its strategy relating to derelict buildings and incentivise responsible property ownership was proposed by Councillor Duncan du Bois and seconded by herself at a recently meeting of the full council.
“All over the city, including in Glenwood, Umbilo and the Berea, abandoned and derelict buildings are a huge concern. They look terrible and affect surrounding property prices, which in turn affect the dwindling rates base. They also provide a hide-out for criminals, prostitutes and drug dealers and make our communities unsafe. I visited a number of these properties with Councillor du Bois to fully comprehend the extent of the problem,” said Graham.
She said at present it was very difficult to get municipal officials to act against abandoned properties and their owners. ” A DA proposed-motion, passed by council in 2011, sought to give eThekwini the ability to attach and sell buildings that are left derelict for a certain period of time. Despite being approved, this was never implemented,” she said.
“The full council, led by the ANC, voted against the motion proposed by Councillor du Bois which sought to provide a change in strategy for Durban and hopefully start to deal with the many properties that are so detrimental to our suburbs,” said Graham.
