‘umlazi upgrade will leave us homeless’
Informal traders will have shops-cum-homes demolished to make way for new development to attract tourists, business to precinct
ANEW development earmarked for umlazi’s V section near popular shisa nyama spots, Max’s Lifestyle and Eyadini Lounge, will see emerging businesses bulldozed.
Informal traders have already been given letters by ethekwini municipality instructing them to vacate their stalls.
The traders, who said they were not consulted, claimed the project was a ploy to get rid of them.
“We were never invited to any meeting about this project, we didn’t know anything until we received letters from business support in June telling us to vacate our shops.
“The municipality, which is supposed to be supporting small businesses, has decided to take away our bread and butter,” said a trader, who did not want to be named.
Another trader, Mzwa Ngubo, 22, said the ward councillor told them there was nothing he could do to help them. Ngubo stays with his six siblings in the shop which his late parents turned into a home.
“Our parents used to be traders at this site before they died some years ago. They left us here. I grew up here. If the municipality decides to demolish our home, we would be on the street because we have no other place to live.
“The notice only came in June which is unfair because it’s a short notice on our side. I went to the councillor and he not could help me.”
Ngubo said all he wanted was a shelter where he could live with his family. These yellow houses and small business in umlazi are to be demolished by the municipality to make way for parking in a new development to turn the area into a shopping, lifestyle, business precinct.
However, ward councillor Mthokozisi Nojiyeza said he was unaware Ngubo and his family used their stall as home.
Mandla Nsele, ethekwini Municipality’s deputy head of communications, said the informal traders did not have permits to operate at the site.
“All the informal traders were informed and had acknowledged the notification. Relevant departments and councillors have been engaging with informal traders to get them to move as they are trading illegally.”
He said a temporary solution would be provided for informal traders who were registered at the time the project was conceptualised.
On the project, Nsele said: “The city has begun the construction to expand Sibusiso Mdakane Drive with an intention to convert the road into a tourist attraction with a variety of businesses.”
It was spearheaded by the Economic Development and Planning Cluster.
Nsele said the plan was to transform the precinct into places such as Florida Road in Morningside and Swapo Road (Broadway) in Durban North.
While Nsele said the upgrade was going to take two years, he could not disclose how much the city would pay.
The upgrades would also include communal parking along the road to complement businesses. The upgrades would be undertaken over the next two years and CCTV cameras would be fitted in a drive to make a safe zone, said Nsele.
“The project will benefit the umlazi township in general. All the businesses located along this stretch of road, including the shopping centre, Eyadini and Max’s Lifestyle, and the informal traders,” he said.
“The project is also intended to attract other businesses, for example, lawyers, accountants, town planners, etc, to come and buy private properties and convert them into office use and other home businesses, such as what has happened in Morningside and Durban North,” he said.
Major entertainment businesses, Max’s Lifestyle and Eyadini Lounge, have successfully hosted major events, including activities for the International Essence Festival, which was hosted by Durban for two consecutive years, 2016 and 2017.
Mjey Zama, owner of Eyadini Lounge, also claimed that he was not going to benefit from the upgrades. Instead, he said it would hamper his business.
“I support developments that would benefit the community and businesses in the area. Even with this one I was happy. However, what is currently disturbing me was to be told I would not have car parking for my customers which is something the municipality had promised in the beginning,” he said.
However, Maxi Mqadi, who owns Max’s Lifestyle, lauded the municipality, saying he welcomed the upgrades.
While traders claimed they were not consulted, Zama and Mqadi said everybody was informed about the project.