DURBAN - The eThekwini Parks, Recreation, and Culture unit has sought approval to spend R200 000 to demolish a dilapidated building at the Umgeni Stamford Hill Cemetery in Durban.
For the past five years, the municipality has been trying to resolve the problem of vagrants living around the Gate House building at the entrance to the cemetery.
The eThekwini Community Services Committee (CSC) noted that the building has “reached its life cycle”, was dilapidated and in a vulnerable state, posing a risk to the surrounding community as it harboured vagrants.
The KwaZulu-Natal Amafa and Research Institute issued a permit valid until September 29 this year to demolish the building.
On Tuesday, the eThekwini Executive Committee and the CSC recommended that permission be granted to engage the relevant department to undertake the demolition of the building at a cost of R200 000.
DA eThekwini caucus chief whip, Thabani Mthethwa, said the money could be better utilised if the city used its own resources to carry out the demolition.
Chairperson of the CSC, Zama Sokhabase, said this was an estimated amount.
Deputy City manager Musa Gumede said the city did not have the resources to carry out the demolition because items must be salvaged, and for this experts must be used.
eThekwini Municipality mayor Mxolisi Kaunda said it was a heritage site and the work must be done by specialists.
Retired eThekwini Municipality urban designer and heritage practitioner Arthur Gammage said the Gate House is a rectangular building in brown face-brick, with a portico on columns of sandstone blocks serving as an entry from Umgeni Road.
The cemetery can be accessed via Poplar Road, Killarney Terrace and Wolesely Road.
Gammage said the door of the Topham mausoleum has been closed with concrete blocks.
“Assume the building to be over 60 years, pre-1958 and redundant for cemeteries’ use, but recommend that materials be salvaged for other projects,” Gammage said.
During consideration, the DA voted against the matter and the EFF abstained. The matter will go before full council this week.
Daily News