Pietermaritzburg decay: Business leaders demand provincial government intervention
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Reverend Musa Zondi said the Pietermaritzburg business community raised concerns about the state of the province's capital.
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The business community is up in arms about the state of Pietermaritzburg and has pleaded for the intervention of the provincial government amid concerns that the city’s condition is undermining investment. The community is especially worried about cleanliness, infrastructure decay, and lack of safety and security in the city.
MEC for Economic Development, Musa Zondi, revealed recently in an interview with The Mercury that he had been approached by businesses in the Pietermaritzburg area, including some of the largest employers, to assist in cleaning up the KwaZulu-Natal capital.
Last year, the MEC announced a programme to revitalise small towns, intending to ensure that the province's economy is not solely concentrated in the larger cities. The Pietermaritzburg area, particularly the CBD, is deteriorating rapidly, with large parts of the town that attract significant foot traffic being overrun by homeless individuals. Residents now fear going to certain areas of the city.
Recently, the city announced plans to revitalise the Ematheni Beerhall, one of the most problematic areas in the city.
MEC Zondi stated, “The state of the city of Pietermaritzburg falls on us as government to intervene and address the dereliction and dirtiness. That is what the premier has done - he established the Premier's working group, akin to the presidential outreach group in eThekwini, to assist the municipality in addressing its challenges and turning the situation around.”
He emphasised the importance of the team, saying, “Sometimes, if a person falls into trouble, they struggle to dig themselves out and require help from someone else.”
“The town must be cleaned; if it is not, it is very difficult for investors to want to put their money there.” One of the largest companies in Pietermaritzburg has expressed its disappointment with the poor state of the city. “We have neglected them. This is one of the biggest employers in the city and brings in significant revenue, so we are doing everything we can to assist the town,” said Zondi.
Melanie Veness, the CEO of the Pietermaritzburg & Midlands Chamber of Business, stated that the business community requires urgent intervention.
“Yes, the majority of our members have expressed their unhappiness about the state of the city and its infrastructure. It does not bode well from an investment perspective because it is easier to convince existing investors to expand than to attract new investors. We must create an enabling environment for business to attract investment - a clean, maintained city that offers reliable, quality services at a competitive rate with a responsive government,” she said.
Rienus Niemand, ACDP councillor in the municipality, remarked, “The ACDP is concerned, along with the business sector, about the state of the city. The fundamental principle is for the municipality to create an environment where business can thrive.
“Services and charges must be efficient and competitively priced. Unfortunately, the management of these services leaves a lot to be desired, which in turn affects business confidence. “The ACDP therefore supports the call by the business community for external assistance to stabilise the situation.”
The Msunduzi Municipality said while it has not received a formal complaint, it occasionally receives feedback from members of the business community relating to infrastructure maintenance and cleanliness.
“Where such matters are brought to the Municipality’s attention, they are assessed and addressed by the relevant departments through routine maintenance, targeted interventions, and ongoing improvement programmes. Msunduzi Municipality continues to prioritise infrastructure upkeep and cleanliness as key components of a functional environment and economic growth.”