Gandhi centre grounds deplorable
A NEW museum and education centre dedicated to the life of Mahatma Gandhi lies amid filth and squalor in Durban’s historic Indian CBD – even before the R2.5 million facility is to be opened to the public.
The Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Centre was built last year in conjunction with the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Trust and with funds from the governments of India and KwaZulu-Natal. It will contain Gandhi artefacts and educational material.
The centre is situated in Dr Goonam (Prince Edward) Street, on a piece of land that was acquired by Gandhi himself in 1897.
While the date of its opening is yet to be finalised, the centre grounds, which are fenced and monitored by a guard, are in a shocking state, strewn with litter, cans and bottles. The strong stench of urine permeates the air, and just metres away, a group of vagrants sleep on the pavement.
Approached for comment, Pradeep Gupta of the Indian Consulate in Durban said eThekwini Municipality was responsible for the upkeep of the centre.
The trust’s Ela Gandhi said: “We are hoping for a launch by March and that we can put the material into the centre. We have had numerous delays. When the centre was completed, we handed over a memorandum to the eThekwini Municipality stating that they are responsible for the upkeep of the centre, and the trust will act as advisers.”
The city’s acting spokesperson, Gugu Mbonambi, said the centre was last cleaned in October but that passers-by continue to litter the grounds.
“We have since acquired the services of a security company to guard the site 24 hours a day to ensure that this never happens again.
“We are also in the process of sourcing quotations for the centre to be cleaned again this month. Henceforth, the cleaning and general maintenance of the site will be done according to schedule.”
Mbonambi said the centre had the same maintenance plan as other city museums.
“The centre will reopen on completion of the content for an exhibition,” she added.