eThekwini's crackdown on illegal structures aims to restore Durban's public spaces

King Dinuzulu Park has been restored for public use after eThekwini teams removed illegal structures, cleared waste, trimmed trees and fumigated the site, as the municipality vows to continue weekly operations across Durban’s inner city.

The eThekwini Municipality has stepped up efforts to reclaim Durban’s inner-city public spaces, with weekly multi-disciplinary operations targeting illegal structures, dumping and the unlawful use of open spaces.

The latest operation was carried out from August 19 to 21 at King Dinuzulu Park , where a multi-disciplinary team removed illegal structures, cleared accumulated waste, trimmed trees to improve visibility and fumigated the site.

The municipality said the park has since been restored for public use following safety concerns raised by residents and businesses.

The intervention follows a similar operation at The Workshop from August 12 to 14, where teams dealt with illegal dumping, flushed drains, trimmed trees and swept surrounding streets.

According to the municipality, the weekly operations are aimed at ensuring that public spaces receive sustained maintenance rather than being subjected to once-off clean-ups.

Director of Supply Side and Area Based Operations, Linda Mbonambi, said neglected open spaces can have a direct impact on surrounding businesses.

eThekwini Municipality has intensified its weekly crackdown on illegal structures, dumping and the unlawful use of public spaces in Durban’s inner city, with King Dinuzulu Park the latest site to undergo a major clean-up and safety operation.

"Open spaces that fall into disrepair get invaded, and the disruption that follows spills over onto surrounding businesses—in some cases to the point where those businesses cannot trade. Restoring these spaces is not only about cleanliness and safety, but also about protecting economic activity and rebuilding business confidence."

Mbonambi said the municipality would continue working to prevent public spaces from being misused.

"We are committed to restoring these spaces to their proper use. This forms part of a broader goal of ensuring the inner city restores a culture of preservation and attracts investment."

The municipality said it would continue working with precinct users and property owners to coordinate safety, cleanliness and infrastructure maintenance, with the aim of protecting property values and preventing urban decay.

The weekly operations will continue and are expected to expand to other public spaces across Durban’s inner city as the municipality works towards creating a cleaner, safer and more liveable environment.