Council land used to run business for free
City Watch was refused entry to the property this week.
Besides being neglected, the property has no running water, electricity or sanitation facilities. During the City Watch visit, several spots where fires had been made could be seen and there was a stench of human waste.
The smell has affected other nearby businesses and owners are worried about their staff’s health.
Business owner Charles Barth, of Harvy’s of Durban, said he has been calling for the city to intervene since last year.
He claimed there was a lot of criminal activity going on on the property which is opposite his business.
“The structure is not stable, it looks like it is going to collapse and nobody cares. It is very dangerous.
“Two people were shot dead in a broad daylight there and nothing happened afterward. The police are also failing to raid this place.
“I have been speaking to the various people at the municipality and to our ward councillor but to date nothing has been done,” he said.
Barth said other concerns were overgrown trees on the verges which had blocked the electricity power boxes.
“The property is opposite my business, its got no municipal services whatsoever, but they are operating a business from there.
“I obtained a copy of the lease agreement from the municipality and it clearly states on the lease that you cannot operate a business from these premises.”
Another businessperson, who did not want to be named out of fear of victimisation, said people came in and out of the property all day.
“They hoot to be attended to, the other day one of their client’s vehicle drove into my boundary wall and damaged it.
“I also own other premises on this road and these people’s cars are blocking my tenants access to their premises.
“This is just not right. I am so irritated and do not know who else to go to,” she added.
Ward councillor Martin Meyer said he had had a meeting with officials from the real estate unit and they confirmed the property belonged to the city and there was no valid lease.
“It is an illegal business (that is operating), even though it is city-owned land. Currently the focus is to get the city to sell this and some other parcels of land in that area. The land has been shown to be not needed by the city and therefore either long-term leases or the sale of the land is preferable.
“It is an ongoing engagement, as the sale of land or even the lease of city owned land is a slow process.”
ethekwini spokesperson Tozi Mthethwa said they were unaware of the matter.
She added the relevant units had been alerted and tasked to investigate the matter, and address it accordingly.