VACANT land at 2 Umgeni Road is one of 86 properties from across the province that the KZN Department of Public Works and Infrastructure has released to the public.

The department indicated these are assets that have been identified as no longer having significant value to the department and, as such, have been sitting as dead weight.

“The move to dispose of the R120.7m worth of assets for the benefit of the greater public follows resolutions taken during the recent Build KZN Better conference on sustainable approaches regarding asset management,” said department spokesperson Steve Bhengu.

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“To put this into context, the release of these assets will save KZN Public Works and Infrastructure an amount of R24,3m in annual rates. As a landlord, the department pays large amounts of money in rates for all its properties, whether they are in use or sitting vacant. This is money that could be better utilised towards other priorities,” Bhengu added.

The department has issued invitations to the public to submit bids for the properties.

“During the bidding process, preference will be given to those whose goals align with this objective through the acquisition of these assets. Therefore, institutions of higher education, those wanting to build schools and NGOs, will get priority with the assets given to them either at free or at low-cost, long-term leases. This is a historic move by KZN Public Works.”

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