TWO dilapidated buildings in Morningside are among the six that have been identified by the City as problem properties earmarked for renovations under the Inner-city Regeneration Programme.

The properties at 78 Madeline Road and 226 Ninth Avenue will receive attention along with the infamous Tong Lok building at 562 Mahatma Gandhi Road which was abandoned and left in a dilapidated state of disrepair for almost 20 years.

Daniels Pentsaib, senior manager with the eThekwini Municipality Building Inspectorate, said the process of enforcement began as early as 2022 when the first contravention notices were served on property owners.

After multiple inspections, regulatory notices, and collaborative law enforcement actions, the sites were handed over to contractors for remedial work in January, and these are now nearing completion.

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In the last two years, the City’s interventions have resulted in 11 buildings being refurbished by their owners, following municipal enforcement and compliance actions. An additional six buildings have been demolished, including the high–profile Chinese Emporium, while 16 buildings have undergone critical structural repairs to improve safety and habitability.

“Not all problem buildings identified can be remediated as we have limited resources in terms of allocated finances. Our most significant success was the demolition of the nine-storey building known as China Emporium which was fire damaged and posed a structural threat in that the building could have collapsed with major catastrophic consequences,” said Pentsaib.

Noting another major achievement for the Building Inspectorate, Pentsaib said, “The second milestone is the commencement for the remediation of the building situated at 562 Mahatma Gandhi Road, known as Tong Lok Building.”

The City is renovating more buildings located along key nodes, including Mahatma Gandhi Road, Anton Lembede Street, and Dr Pixley KaSeme Street. This is in line with eThekwini’s Inner-city Regeneration Programme which aims to create an attractive urban environment for investors, residents, and visitors.

Also Read: Demolition of Durban’s ‘problem buildings’ commences

Municipal spokesperson Gugu Sisilana said focusing on restoring structural integrity and promoting compliance eliminates risks associated with unsafe and unlawfully occupied buildings.

“Addressing problem buildings is essential to restoring business confidence, combating crime, and enhancing the public realm,” said Sisilana. “By prioritising structures that pose immediate risks, enforcing compliance with the National Building Regulations and the Problem Building By-law, and recovering costs from non-compliant owners, the City is ensuring long-term sustainability of its interventions.”

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