MEC rolls up sleeves to reclaim hijacked buildings in Point

PALM Beach Hotel and the Seamans Institute buildings on Gillespie Street, upon completion of renovations, will soon be under the department’s ownership again. These buildings, once a shining spectacle in South Beach, were illegally occupied until the intervention of the KZN Department of Public Works and Infrastructure.

Steve Bhengu, KZN Public Works and Infrastructure spokesperson, spoke of their oversight visit on September 13. “Friday’s first stop highlighted the issue of abandoned buildings in the inner city and was at a building formerly known as the Palm Beach Hotel. Since the business closed some 15 years ago, the abandoned structure became a victim of ongoing stripping of materials and theft to the point that the KZN Department of Public Works and Infrastructure took the decision to barricade entrance points.”

Also read: Illegal residents evicted as Excelsior Court handed over to Public Works Department

“At the second stop, the Seamans Institute and the Rest building, the reality of illegally occupied buildings was apparent by the number of occupants who have now inhabited it. The occupants live in dire conditions, including overcrowding and having illegal connections,” said Bhengu.

MEC Meyer explained that this particular building was in the process of being handed over to the eThekwini Municipality, which will utilise it to address the issue of housing shortages in the city. MEC Meyer emphasised that it was for this reason that it is important that a conference, which is earmarked to be held before the end of the year, mobilises national and provincial governments as well as the private sector so that a synchronised solution can be found.

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