KZN Infrastructure MEC Meyer reveals plans for hijacked Palm Beach building

DURBAN - KwaZulu-Natal’s hijacked Palm Beach building will be refurbished into student accommodation.

It’s part of the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure’s plans to address the issue of hijacked buildings in the city centre.

Some of the hijacked buildings here in the Durban CBD have been standing for 100 years, and some have been illegally occupied for about 20 years now.

The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure said it wanted to claim them back.

The Palm Beach building, which now has broken windows, water leaks and aging infrastructure is among them.

MEC Martin Meyer said that once the repairs had been done, they had plans for it.

“We are doing an audit of all our buildings and we are trying to fix what is broken. We can’t have a situation here where the government plays the role of a slum lord. We have a responsibility to the people and for all the people of the province to make sure the area is maintained.”

Meyer will meet with Mayor Cyril Xaba to discuss the way forward.