SAFETY and health concerns at King Dinuzulu Park have prompted eThekwini Municipality to step up its crackdown on the unlawful use of Durban’s public spaces.

Around 200 people were reported to be living there and had erected illegal structures in an area opposite King Dinuzulu Park, which was reclaimed by the City last week. Director of Supply Side and Area Based Operations Linda Mbonambi said the multi-disciplinary operation was mounted following safety concerns raised by residents and businesses.

King Dinuzulu Park had become an eyesore and a blemish for the City. The stench of human waste and reports of illicit activity at the park had become a concern for a nearby higher education institution.

“It had become a huge safety risk for the students who have to walk there in the morning and after class,” said a concerned resident.

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“Drugs were being openly used in the park and the students would witness this and have become desensitised to it, which is wrong and shouldn’t be.”

The operation, undertaken from August 19 to 21, targeted illegal structures, illegal dumping and the unlawful use of open spaces. The area was cleared of accumulated waste, trees were trimmed to improve visibility and the site was fumigated.

Mbonambi said restoring these spaces is not only about cleanliness and safety, but also about protecting economic activity.

“Open spaces that fall into disrepair get invaded, and the disruption that follows spills over onto surrounding businesses, in some cases to the point where those businesses cannot trade.”

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The operation also targeted The Workshop, where teams tackled illegal dumping, flushed drains, trimmed trees and swept surrounding streets. Mbonambi emphasised that the City will not allow public spaces to be misused to the detriment of the community.

“We are committed to restoring these spaces to their proper use. This forms part of a broader goal of ensuring the inner city restores a culture of preservation and attracts investment.”

He said the operations would continue weekly, expanding to additional public spaces across the inner city to build a clean, safe, liveable and workable environment.

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