Buildings around the city centre could soon receive a facelift. According to the acting Director of Local Developmment and Planning at Makana Municipality, Thembinkosi Sindani, the municipality is moving forward with its plans to implement an inner city regeneration project.
Buildings around the city centre could soon receive a facelift. According to the acting Director of Local Developmment and Planning at Makana Municipality, Thembinkosi Sindani, the municipality is moving forward with its plans to implement an inner city regeneration project.
Sindani said the municipality has applied to Cacadu Regional government for funding in order to revitalise the city centre.
"We will also encourage local businesses to revamp the delapidated buildings.
"These property owners will form part of the steering committee as well," he said. Grahamstown's historical buildings, mostly built in the 1800s, have been deteriorating fast over the years and in the process damaging the image of the town.
Director of Public Safety and Community Services at Makana, Mandisi Planga, said his Directorate is the custodian of by-laws but was not aware of any around ruined or derelict buildings.
During an interview about his developments at lower Beaufort street, local property developer and Makana councilor Piryawaden Ranchhod told Grocott's Mail that the municipality has legislative powers to act against building owners who fail to look after their buildings.
Ranchhod's construction of a R20 million shopping complex is currently underway in lower Beaufort Street. The project is one in a series of four planned, multi-million property developments by Ranchhod. Ranchhod said the developments will happen over a period of five years and will give Beaufort Street a permanent facelift. Ranchhod said his aim was " to rejuvenate all the old dilapidated buildings in our town, while creating jobs for the people of Grahamstown. As we know there's a 40% unemployment rate in the town."
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