The eThekwini Municipality has announced that the Umhlanga Library will not close indefinitely, but has found a new home at the Lighthouse Mall.
The process of moving resources to the new venue, however, is expected to take around two months. The current venue for the library is to close on February 28.
A protest was held at the library yesterday and community members have expressed their appreciation of the facility and the value it adds to the Umhlanga community.
East Coast Radio’s website published pictures of the protest at the library. Click here for more.
Head of Parks, Recreation and Culture, Thembinkosi Ngcobo, said, “We are satisfied with our new premises and we would like to assure residents that the high level of service delivery would be maintained at the new site,” said Ngcobo.
He urged citizens to be patient while the moving process was taking place. “We have to move all the equipment from the old building and ensure that the new one is in the best possible condition. This process takes time, but the municipality understands that the library provides an essential service to the community, hence will want the process to be completed as soon as possible.”
DA Councillor for Ward 35 (Durban North and La Lucia/Umhlanga) Heinz de Boer said the situation with the clinic at Umhlanga, however, was of serious concern. “The clinic’s DB board was damaged by rain recently forcing clinic staff to rig a makeshift lighting system. The facility is not only overcrowded and small, but in serious need of repair. These repairs will obviously never be completed, as the council will not spend money on fixing facilities that will close in a month.”
He continued: “While I am led to believe that alternate premises were found in the region, senior managers rejected the proposals and called on council to build a new facility. A great idea, but one that is rather unpractical at this stage. The city does not have the budget or the land to build such a facility in the medium term, meaning that patients will in all probability be seen in two mobile clinics after the doors shut on 28 February.”
Commenting on the library issue and relocation of municipal offices, Geoff Pullan, Councillor for North Umhlanga and Umdloti, said, “The reason the Umhlanga Library has to close is that the municipality sold all of the community land bounded by the M4, Lighthouse Rd, Lagoon Dr and Tanager Way.
“The municipal offices have vacated their building and are now up on the Ridge at 327 Umhlanga Rocks Dr. The Health Clinic and Library are going to vacate soon. Only the Bowls Club and the Taxi Rank still have to move.”
4 Comments
Could anyone who is protesting the closure of the library please send 1 email to:
RedmanG@durban.gov.za
mayorspa@durban.gov.za
newswatch@ecr.co.za
Include the above 3 people in the To: field of your email and a short explanation of why you would not like it to close.
This is an absolute disgrace and we need to petition the municipality not to do this, if we want it to stay open. If enough people take action then we can do something about this.
The reason why it is closing is because the municipality has sold public land to a private developer and they are going to build more high rises there.
How public municipal land can be sold to a private developer, is beyond me?
BR, Justin
The reason the Umhlanga Library has to close is that the municipality “sold” all of the community land bounded by the M4, Lighthouse Rd, Lagoon Dr and Tanager Way.
The municipal offices have vacated their building and are now up on the Ridge in 327 Umhlanga Rocks Dr. The Health Clinic and Library are going to vacate soon. Only the Bowls Club and the Taxi Rank still have to move.
It will be interesting to see how the authorities move the taxi rank !!!
Geoff D A Pullan
083 695 9190
What about the activity room in the La Lucia library? Will that room ever become usable again?
As far as we know the land is earmarked for development . . . so it seems the answer is no. The library has found new premises, and I would assume there would be an activity room at the new premises. This needs further investigation. Thanks Joshiro.