R5bn precinct to bridge inequality gap

Bridging the gap between the rich and the poor- that is the vision of South Africa’s most ambitious development, under way in KwaMashu, north of Durban. Set amid sprawling low cost housing, the R5 billion Bridge City New Town development, a joint venture project between Tongaat Hulett and the eThekwini Municipality is seen by many in the INK area (Inanda, Ntuzuma and KwaMashu) as their chance to find work and to have easier access to shops, clinics and public transport.
Glancing at the almost completed R740 million shopping mall set to launch on October 28 year, Fezeka Nzukela, who lives in Bester’s Park right across the road from the new precint, said she was looking forward to the opening.”I am sure they wil ask us who live across the road first if we want work.” Nzukela , whose husband collects and selld scrap, said shee believed her family would ne safer as well, “ I am sure when the mall opens there will be more police.”
As the massive front end louder, grader and trucks swarmed over the site, children returning form school said they watched the construction progree every day.
“We won’t have to travel so far ro get to the shops any more, which is good.Transport is very expensive.” Said Grade 10 pupil Mkanyiso Ngcobo.
A third resident, who asked not to be named, was not as optimostic. “They need to help us fix our houses. If people come from overseas to this place and they see our houses we will be very embarrassed. “The construction hasn’t included us so far.Many of the workers on the site are not from here and ther is dust everywhere. My washing is diry and I have to board up my windows to keep it out. My chest is sore all the time.”
Fred Pietersen, Director of Crowie Projects, the developer in charge of Bridge City mall, said Bester Camp was high on the agenda. We have had preliminary conversations about the area Once the precint is developed we will put our heads together and see how we can get Bester’s Camp uplifted. “It’s very important for the centre to plough back into the community.We have set aside about R2 million, which will be used for corporate social investments initiative up until the end of the project.” Tongaat Hulett Developments’ Brian Ive agreed that it couldn’t be easy living next to the construction site, but he believed the long term benefits would be worth it.
Opportunity
“This is a world first and the people have unique opportunity. In fact, if I were them I would get together as a community, and apply to the municipality to rezone their properties for commercial use.They could make a tidy profit by selling their properties to potential businesses.” Ive said that in 10 years the area, which historically was a buffer between the city of Durban, Umhlanga Rocks and the apartheid designed townships of Phoenix and KwaMashu, would look significantly different. “
By the end of the year the shopping mall will be fully functioning. The eThekwini Municipality would have finished the construction og the R90m bus and taxi rank. The plans for a regional magistrate court have been fast tracked and the design of the 480 bed hospital is now with the national Department of Health. In 19 years, this will be a new town centre, busting with apartments, shops and restaurants it will be a vibrant, living recreational and business centre.”
Ive said the railway station, unerneath the mall, was almost complete.
“The passanger Rail Agency of South Africa have assured us the system will be up and running by the first half of 2011.”
Than development director at Tongaat Hulett developments, Cyril Gwala, said the site had already had significant spinoffs for the communites.
“Our aim was to maximise employment using people in that area particulary throigh the use of small contractors and individual labourers.”
Both Ive and Gwala said the site offered unique opportunities for potential investors.
“At the end of this year, construction work for 2010 World Cuo will be completed and there is no doubt developers are going to turn their attention to projects such as this one.We already have financial entity, a petrol filling station and inquiries from Johannesburg based developers have been pouring in. We have sold at least 25 percent of potential bilk.” They said.
COLLEN DARDAGAN

The Mercury - 29 Jun 2009