Page 14 - KZN Business Sense - KZN Chamber

Making a difference
The official handover of
a new media centre to the resources required to Project Build Trust After three years as a fund raiser of Technology students the
Menzi High School in continue this trend. The media Project Build Trust is a non- and ten years at the helm of the opportunity to work in their
centre will be named in memory Project Build Trust, CEO Suzanne offices and at building sites in
Umlazi took place on the 19 of Felix Mshololo, the school’s profit organisation that has Edmunds is very passionate about order to obtain work experience,
August 2016. The construction much loved principal who died been constructing educational the difference that the Trust which is required to complete
of the media centre was enabled unexpectedly last year, and who buildings in KwaZulu-Natal can make to learners in poorly their study programmes.
through a R1 million donation was instrumental in turning the for 40 years. More recently resourced schools and to the
from the state owned insurance school’s pass rate around. projects in Mpumalanga, the communities in which they build. Project Build is dependent on the
company Sasria and built by the Free State and the Eastern She said, “An important part of any support of the donor community,
Project Build Trust. Muntu Ntombela, current Cape have been undertaken. project is ensuring that the buy in which includes businesses and
principal at Menzi High School Project Build has been involved from the key stakeholders in the charitable trusts to carry out its
The south Durban school is said, “The media centre will in the construction of 6000 various communities we work is important mandate of developing
among the top schools in the continue to improve the quality classrooms including libraries, obtained and that the projects are communities by building good
Umlazi District − one of the of education at our school. The laboratories, and computer sustainable.” infrastructure.
best performers in KZN. For centre will also ensure that rooms. Current projects include
the past five years the school has learners do not leave school a house for disabled people, a The Trust strives to empower Consequently, the Trust is
obtained a 100% pass rate for the early to visit other media transitional house for young independent building contractors, a vehicle for optimising socio
matric exams as well as a 95% centres in the area. However, people requiring mentoring, while creating employment economic development spend
bachelor’s degree pass rate. The there is still a need for more a preschool classroom in and passes skills on to the as well as obtaining enterprise
new media centre will contribute funding to further equip Yellowwood Park, a medical communities with which they development points. n
greatly to ensuring that learners the centre with appropriate clinic in Happy Valley and a work. The Project Build Trust
at the school are able to access resources.” library in Cato Crest. also offers Durban University www.sasria.co.za
www.projectbuild.org.za

Menzi High School Media Centre Principal Muntu Ntombela and Sibongile Khumalo (CSI officer for Sasria)

PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARNERSHIP FOR EFFECTIVE URBAN

MANAGEMENT

Andrew Layman of attention which, at the same In many countries of the world of properties has increased from Durban CBD and are themselves
time, neglected the real CBD. it has been shown that the best R6 billion in 2006 to R21 billion determined to promote urban
Whether one lives and management of public space is in 2014, and some R35 billion regeneration. Our beachfront
works north across the The effects of this neglect are effected by partnerships between just two years later. It is a most must be managed so that its
river, or retreats each profound. Not only has the value public entities and the private attractive urban landscape, right world-class potential is fulfilled,
day to the less frenetic western of CBD properties declined to sector’s property owners. They in the heart of the city, close to and we must resuscitate the
suburbs, the heart of Durban the notable detriment of the city’s have a vested interest in ensuring just about every transport need. fragile CBD heart, including the
is its central business district. financial welfare, but the areas that they yield satisfactory There are high perceptions of Warwick precinct with its great
Regrettably, it has become a to the south of the city have also returns in the form of higher safety and commercial activity tourism attraction.
part of the city which many suffered; the effects of having the rentals, higher market values and flourishes. It is the home of many
seek to avoid, and its beat, at back turned while the gaze to the dynamic business activity. This corporate offices. In 2015, the The body which represents
least in a commercial sense, has north is perpetuated. I’m told has been shown in this country, average occupancy rate across all property owners, South African
weakened. But this is true only that the suburban CBD of ‘Toti is too, but, unfortunately, not in commercial property categories Property Owners Association
in the formal sense, for there hardly recognisable such has been our inner city, despite the best was 90%, rising to 95% for those (Sapoa), is in the vanguard
are thought to be at least ten the extent of its decay. efforts of the Urban Improvement offering retail space. of the private sector push for
thousand informal traders in the Precincts which have been constructive dialogue with the
Warwick Junction area alone, The key to arresting urban decay established in some areas there. If it can be done there, it Municipality in order to establish
where, incidentally, the number – a phenomenon not unique to can be done here. Cape Town a formal strategic partnership
of people passing through each South Africa, by any means – is Our hope lies in a burgeoning has thirty-five CIDs, and our to tackle the issues of urban
day, approaches half a million. the effective management of public/private partnership number of fewer than ten management. Progress is being
Although plans to regenerate public space. Buildings do not involving the eThekwini is paltry by comparison. It made, but, as in so many things,
the central city go back to at deteriorate first; their condition Municipality and the business requires strong political will and it cannot be done overnight.
least 1997 when iTrump (Inner follows the trend of the public community, especially those a determination not to shelve
Thekwini Renewal and Urban space environment where members of it who own property. plans and recommendations, as Andrew Layman has been
Management Programme) degeneration is promoted by lack While we have model UIPs has been done so frequently in appointed by the KZN branch
was adopted by the city, the of enforcement, and, very soon, worth of emulation in Umhlanga the past. At present, an urban of the South African Property
heart has not been well cared the lack of financial resources Rocks, the one that we need to generation plan is being crafted, Owners Association to lead
for. Euphoria and pride in the to attend to the problem. learn from is the Cape Town and will give excellent direction, Urban Improvement projects in
exciting developments in the This assumes the problem is Central City Urban Improvement but the real game-breaker will be the city. n
north, where people spoke of a recognised as such, of course, District (Cape Town CCID) action and delivery. We must
‘new CBD’, resulted in a focus but recognition alone is clearly which was established in 2000. support large property investors E-mail: layman.uip@gmail.com
insufficient. Here, the municipal valuation who have put their faith in the Website: www.sapoa.org.za

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