Durban Eye would still cost residents

IT SEEMS that my criticism of the proposed Durban Eye project may have been a bit premature. If so, as a “real man”, I wind in my neck and shall dine on humble pie.

The project, as revealed today, is supposedly not going to cost eThekwini Municipality a brass farthing. A private investment consortium simply developing land granted by Council? Well, then, phew! What a relief.

But wait, let’s look a little more closely. The project reportedly shall generate revenue for eThekwini in various ways, “with inflation-linked escalations year-on-year” for 30 years. Ja, well, no fine. But, after 30 years, then what? The municipality will “inherit the asset and all building improvements”.

And then? Yet another bottomless hole, just like uShaka Marine World and Moses Mabhida Stadium, into which goodness knows how many millions, nay billions, are to be thrown. I thank my guardian that I’ll not be forced to witness this, yet another criminal action, by the ANC in eThekwini Municipality!

DAVID CARTWRIGHT | Hillcrest