Handover of Westpoint Lodge postponed

Handover of the hijacked Westpoint Lodge building, in Durban, from the KwaZulu-Natal Public Works and Infrastructure MEC Martin Meyer to eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba, has been postponed to a later date.

The event was set to take place today, Thursday January 16.

eThekwini Municipality communications spokesperson, Gugu Sisilana, said this decision was taken to allow the city and the provincial government sufficient time to finalise all required processes and ensure a seamless handover.

She said they are committed to conducting the ceremony and will work closely with the provincial counterparts to confirm a new date.

The joint initiative follows a recent signing of a historic, one-of-a-kind Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU), said Ms Sisilana.

The MOU is between the National Public Works and Infrastructure Department, KZN Public Works and Infrastructure Department and the eThekwini Municipality to jointly tackle the issue of hijacked and abandoned buildings and by doing so address various needs such as housing, social services, among others.

“Situated opposite the entrance of the Durban harbour, the pink Westpoint Lodge building has become notorious as a defining symbol of a hijacked building,” said Ms Sisilana

The illegally occupied residential structure is now easily identified through:

• Illegal residents;

• Draping illegal power connections;

• Several fires in recent years which have claimed a handful of lives;

• Overcrowding;

• Ongoing dilapidation further compromising structural integrity.

The handover of the Westpoint Lodge building in the coming weeks will mark one of the first official events since the MOU was signed, said Ms Sisilana.

“MEC Meyer will also make an announcement on the upcoming Build KZN Better two-day conference and how it aims to address issues faced by the built environment, including such as those seen in the form of Westpoint Lodge,” said Ms Sisilana.