Durban - The eThekwini Municipality has detailed the progress made in the building of the KwaMashu Bridge City Urban Hub, revealing that sites have been acquired for construction – including the building of a light industrial precinct.
Several sites have been acquired for the purpose to develop several things, including an office precinct that could be used by government departments, the development of a light industrial park and social housing.
The city’s plan is for the “Bridge City Town Centre” to become the regional hub of the greater INK (Inanda, Ntuzuma, KwaMashu) area, creating easy access to public transport for its residents.
In a report tabled before the Economic Development Committee recently, on the progress made in relation to the development of the hub, it revealed that several sites have been acquired for the development.
The municipality acquired a site on the Bridge City Town Centre Upper Platform. The development proposal aims to centrally provide a government tenant mix consisting primarily of civic and social government departments that would greatly benefit INK communities.
“Such a Government Service Mall will be central to completion of the commercial node for the benefit of neighbouring communities bringing services relevant to their needs.
“It will help in bringing closer business development tenants seeking to empower the poor and disadvantaged through access to information, services and resources on government, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), parastatals, business, etc enabling them to engage in government programmes for the improvement of their lives.
“Employment levels of the INK area are reported at around 40% and a further 33% are estimated to be economically inactive. This raises concern of dwindling economic productivity and a lack of economic opportunities with a segment of the economically active commuting daily to Durban CBD and neighbouring economic hubs in eThekwini.”
Speaking on projects under way or completed, the report said the Bridge was the first residential development to get under way in the precinct. It comprises 350 units in three buildings of different configurations. It said sales for the first phase were under way and expected occupation was earmarked for September 2023.
The Bridge City Towers is another residential development that commenced in April 2022. The Dr Pixley ka Seme Hospital is a 500-bed hospital nearing completion, with the final stages in progress and a gradual introduction of staff and patrons as the hospital reaches completion.
DA councillor and committee member Sakhile Mngadi said: “I think the project itself is a great initiative and a plus for township direct investment and employment opportunities. As the DA we have supported catalytic projects like this.”
However, he raised concerns about business forums interfering with the project. “I think it’s unfortunate that the city is constantly being held to ransom by construction Mafia and extortionists and I think the administration is completely out of their depth in dealing with this.”
Municipal spokesperson Msawakhe Mayisela said the city would not tolerate any lawlessness and anyone who impedes on the development, including the storming of the site, would face the full might of the law.