R44m library is unsafe for use
Flood damage to new Mdantsane facility a blow to community
The R44m Mdantsane library, which former president Jacob Zuma opened with much fanfare four years ago, is unsafe for use and has been closed for months.
The building has not been in use since February.
The facility was flooded in January following heavy rains, causing damage to the physical structure including the electrical network, ablution facilities and water systems.
The provincial department of sport, recreation, arts and culture (DSRAC) will now inject more than half-a-million-rand to do a complete overhaul of the library's infrastructure.
The renovations include fixing the ceiling, part of the roof and complete electrification of the library.
Department spokesperson Andile Nduna on Thursday confirmed that the library was unsafe for pupils and the general public to use.
“An amount of between R500,000 and R650,000 has been put aside to repair the ceiling and part of the roof that were damaged by the floods and rains earlier in the year.
“The work is scheduled start in earnest by the end this month,” said Nduna.
Pupils, teachers and residents of Mdantsane have been waiting in anticipation for the facility to open. It was initiated in 2010 as part of Mdantsane’s 50th celebrations. to of
The library is supposed to be a technologically-advanced centre that offers Braille facilities and other modern technology to assist pupils and students access information faster.
It was also home to 4,000 books, utilised by about six high schools in the area.
The facility was also used to host community dialogues.
The Buffalo City Metro council recently approved the renaming of the library to Nokhanime Thomas, who was a liberation struggle veteran and a leader of the ANC national women’s league.
Thomas’s grandson Thandulwazi Thomas said: “It does not matter whose name the library carries, but with its doors closed, it becomes useless to the community. This library is currently servicing about five or six high schools in the area, some of which have been announced to be badly performing.
“It is clear then that the books which are stored in that library can go a long way in ensuring that the matric pass rate does improve.”