City promises to fix Westville Library after safety concerns
eThekwini Municipality said it is aware of the safety concerns at Westville Library after a regular visitor complained about its condition.
ETHEKWINI Municipality said it was aware of the condition of the floor surface at Westville Library and the safety concern it presents. In its response to a resident’s complaint, the City said the damage has been caused by water ingress through the roof, and the municipality is addressing this root cause first so that the floor repairs are lasting.
Cowies Hill resident Pauline Horner had said several carpet tiles inside the library are severely worn and are coming loose at the corners, creating what she believes is a potential trip hazard for visitors.
Also read: Resident raises concerns over condition of Westville library
Horner also raised concerns about the condition of the grounds surrounding the library. She said trees had become extremely overgrown, while weeds had been allowed to grow through the paving.
She said the paving near the library entrance was another concern. At the top of the steps leading towards the entrance, she observed loose and uneven brickwork that had not been realigned or secured.
“Every time I visit the library, I feel very sad to see municipal buildings in the suburb where I grew up, looking so shabby,” she said.
eThekwini Municipality’s marketing and communications spokesperson Senzelwe Mzila said capital funding has been allocated in the 2026/27 and 2027/28 financial years for the upgrade and rehabilitation of the library roof.
According to Mzila, the scope of this project includes the upgrade of the floor surface, as well as the realignment and securing of loose paving at the facility.
“Trees on the property are maintained by the municipality’s Recreation and Parks Directorate as part of its scheduled maintenance programme. The library’s paved areas are cleaned daily as part of routine facility upkeep, which is overseen by the librarian. The municipality is also filling an additional general assistant post, which will further strengthen maintenance capacity at the facility.”
He added that the municipality remains committed to providing a safe, clean and welcoming environment for all library users.
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