KZN government probes sale of Umlazi disability centre to Mangosuthu university

A hall at the Enduduzweni Centre for the disabled in Umlazi stands in a state of disrepair. The KwaZulu-Natal Legislature’s Public Works Portfolio Committee visited the centre on Tuesday.

An oversight visit by the government has found that the Enduduzweni Centre for the disabled in Umlazi is being considered for sale to the Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT).

The KwaZulu-Natal Legislature’s Public Works Portfolio Committee visited the centre with officials from the eThekwini Municipality on Tuesday. The MUT campus currently occupies two neighbouring properties along Griffiths Mxenge Highway (previously known as Mangosuthu Highway).

The committee stated that the Enduduzweni Centre is going through difficulties and is in the process of being sold to MUT. Petros Msimango, the committee chairperson, explained that the centre was inherited by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) from the Department of Social Development (DSD).

“It was condemned as inhospitable as far back as 2016. Vandals have stolen water pipes, light bulbs, doors and electricity cables, plunging it into disarray. The centre has existed since the early 1990s, but its future is bleak, and its residents are pleading for help,” Msimango said.

Following the walk-about at the centre, the committee convened a formal meeting at the DPWI offices in Durban where it received a comprehensive report on the centre's history and plans to sell it to MUT. The committee also heard that among the conditions for selling the centre to MUT was that the university should arrange to accommodate the centre's residents.

“Committee members, worried about the state of the centre's residents, resolved to convene a joint meeting with the Social Development portfolio committee to deliberate on the state and future of the centre's residents,” Msimango said.

The Enduduzweni Centre situated along Griffiths Mxenge Highway (previously Mangosuthu Highway) in Umlazi, south of Durban. The centre is behind the Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) Science Faculty.

The committee toured the facility and saw first-hand collapsed roofs, empty halls and rooms, overgrown lawns and missing windows. The centre also has intermittent water and electricity supply. People with disabilities showed municipal officials stacks of plastic bottles filled with water they must store for basic needs. Those living in the centre and people with disabilities who use it complained of criminals walking through the area and people attempting to build shacks on the property.

eThekwini Deputy Mayor Zandile Myeni said they would address the issues raised by the committee and those living at the centre. Myeni said they would also check their billing records for outstanding utility bill payments relating to the centre. She said the entire south Durban area was grappling with water outages.

“The uMkhomazi Water Scheme is nearing completion. The first phase of construction is complete.