In a bid to tackle the issue of hijacked and unused buildings, on Friday, September 13, the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Public Works and Infrastructure, Martin Meyer, will conduct an oversight at the Palm Beach Hotel, in Durban.

In a statement the department said the building, which previously operated as a hotel, has been identified as one many either hijacked or unused buildings which the department will claim back.

“The issue of hijacked and unutilised buildings is one that MEC Meyer has brought into the spotlight with hundreds such structures belonging to the department identified. In solving the issue some interventions identified by the MEC include repurposing, reusing, and reselling such problematic buildings which form part of the provincial department’s over 13 000 assets on the books, according to ongoing audits,” read the statement.

The statement added that in the same afternoon, after the oversight, the MEC will be meeting with eThekwini Mayor, Cyril Xaba, to unpack challenges and possible solutions around issues of hijacked buildings, EPWP and rates.

“The eThekwini Municipality plays a key role as a partner in tackling the scourge of problematic buildings which harbour criminal elements. The municipality is also one of the leading concentration regions of hijacked and abandoned buildings.”

The Mercury