Last round for illegal tavern in Durban CBD

An illegal tavern that was operating in the Durban Central Business District (CBD) was demolished last Friday. The demolition was met with applause by onlookers who were happy to see the tavern destroyed.

The tavern was based at 44 Lancers Road, said eThekwini municipality communications head, Lindiwe Khuzwayo.

“The city took action after numerous complaints by residents and business owners about the building,” said Ms Khuzwayo. “The demolition was a major success and onlookers applauded the action taken by the many eThekwini departments as well as the Metro Police and SAPS involved in the operation.”

Ms Khuzwayo said a joint operation by several city departments including the department of human settlements, the area-based management unit, problem buildings division, urban improvement precinct, Metro Police and the SAPS carried out an operation last Monday to clear out the tavern - this was followed by the demolition on Friday.

“The illegal tavern contributed to major crimes that impacted the CBD. Numerous raids were conducted, and they yielded positive results. Despite issuing several warnings, the owners continued to operate with impunity forcing the city to take stern action against the owner of the tavern,” said Ms Khuzwayo.

The demolition forms a part of the City's continued efforts to regenerate the CBD and ensure a safer and cleaner city for all.

In May, the municipality demolished a building at 97 Ingcuce Street in the CBD. The building was dilapidated and not in keeping with the aesthetics of the district. The problem buildings division’s objective is to encourage and enforce the renovation of dilapidated buildings by owners of the property. This is to ensure all operating buildings comply with the standards that are expected of them by the eThekwini Municipality, said Ms Khuzwayo.