eThekwini Municipality’s efforts to clean up and secure abandoned buildings are insufficient if they don’t benefit local communities, says Ward 31 Councillor Remona McKenzie.
Her remarks follow the deployment of security guards to protect a vandalized Musgrave property, which previously housed the La Bella restaurant before it shut down in 2023. The vacant building was stripped by vagrants and became a crime hotspot, affecting the nearby Essenwood Park.
McKenzie, who has repeatedly raised concerns with the municipality, welcomed the security intervention but urged a broader strategy.
“The municipality needs to identify all abandoned buildings, not just this one,” she said. “I’ve created a database of these properties and handed it over for assessment. Some, like this one, belong to Public Works or municipal departments, and we need clear plans for their future.”
She insists that merely securing and cleaning these buildings isn’t enough.
“We need to open tenders for these properties and turn them into facilities that benefit the community—like skills development centers. That’s what I’ve proposed in my discussions with the municipality.”
As concerns over urban decay persist, McKenzie is pushing for long-term solutions that address both security and community development.