Bay art centre still under investigation
THE KZN Department of Arts and Culture remains hopeful that the ongoing investigation into the uThungulu Art Centre in Richards Bay will be concluded soon.
‘The forensic investigation is still continuing but we hope that during this financial year, it will be concluded and construction will continue.
‘At this stage the contractor will not be able to do any work on the structure or the site until the investigation is done,’ said department spokesperson Mack Makhathini.
Construction of the structure in Veldenvlei, which has been an eyesore sight for residents for years, was stopped after the department noted some delays in the project.
The department had contracted IDT as the implementing agent for the construction, but had to intervene.
‘The project’s layout and design were behind owing to the architect not providing full survey details on time as well as not coordinating team activities effectively.
‘The same architect also enlisted an engineer who had capacity constraints, delaying the completion of civil and structural designs.
‘The department then relieved the architect and engineer of their duties, recruiting better suited candidates. The planning process was started afresh and a new design approved by the department,’ Makhathini said last year.
However while the state of the building and the site continue to deteriorate, the department says it has planned programmes to take place at the centre, once it is open for public use.
‘There are programmes that are planned for the Art Centre for the 2018/2019 financial year and a budget of R200 000 is set aside,’ Makhathini said.
The programmes include a fine Art Workshop, Music Workshop, King Cetshwayo Arts Festival and Themed Gallery Exhibition.