KZN’s Department of Public Works has announced a five-step plan to tackle the growing issue of unused and abandoned government buildings. Department head Vish Govender shared the plan at the Build KZN Better Conference on Tuesday, emphasizing that these buildings attract crime and lower property values in surrounding areas.
The department’s strategy focuses on rehabilitating these structures for social and economic upliftment. Govender highlighted a district school now repurposed as a skills hub for youth training as a prime example of how abandoned buildings can revitalize communities. He also discussed the importance of finding innovative property solutions for these spaces.