Esplanade government building will get facelift. | Gcina Ndwalane
Durban — The historic signing of the memorandum of understanding between eThekwini Municipality and Public Works and Infrastructure to jointly deal with problematic buildings in the City is now yielding results.
On Monday, KwaZulu-Natal Public Works and Infrastructure MEC, Martin Meyer is expected to officially unveil the department’s multi-million-rand inner city repurposing project of underutilized and abandoned government buildings.
The unveiling will also form part of close to R1 billion injection into the refurbishment and revitalisation of the iconic Esplanade Government Building.
The building stands empty and dilapidated at the corner of Margaret Mncadi Road formerly known as Victoria Embankment and Stalwart Simelane road formerly known as Stanger Street along Durban harbour.
In a short statement issued by the department it said the unveiling marks one of the first projects showcasing the impact of the Public-Private Partnership initiative where the government joins hands with the private sector to address the issues of unused and abandoned derelict buildings.
The main concern for the department and the City was that the buildings are harbouring criminal elements while chasing away business and investors from strategic central business districts.
In its heydays, the once- iconic 18, 000 square metres Esplanade Government Building housed hundreds of staff from different departments, meaning space was utilised to the utmost efficiency, helping cut down costs of office space. Years later, all that remains of the 7-floor mega structure is its empty shell while it has become a safety hazard and an eye sore, adding to an endless list of derelict buildings.
Once complete, the MEC said the building is envisioned to be a state-of-the art structure home to numerous government staff, office space, shops, and private business.
The MEC will be joined by eThekwini mayor Cyril Xaba. The MEC will also outline details of the project as well as the way forward for the many abandoned and illegally occupied buildings owned by the department through the PPP initiative.
The Esplanade building is one of the buildings that the department mentioned during the signing of the memorandum together with the Excelsior in Berea which has also been abandoned for many years.
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