The eThekwini Mayor Cllr James Nxumalo together with members of the Executive Committee (EXCO) and Council officials, today, 11/02/14, visited Albert Park, with the aim of coming up with a multi-disciplinary approach to address the problems of drugs, crime, lack of cleanliness and vagrancy, which is tarnishing the image of the City.

After touring the area and interacting with scores of homeless people and some residents from Albert Park, EXCO resolved that a Task Team be established. This Task Team will be led by the Deputy City Manager of Community and Emergency Service Cluster, Dr Musa Gumede and has been mandated to identify the issues and coordinate all relevant departments and stakeholders to assist in dealing with social challenges in Albert Park.

Non-Governmental Organisations operating in the area, such as the Albert Park Community Crime Prevention Association, South African Peace Network and others who were part of the tour have welcomed and endorsed the initiative by the Municipality. Nxumalo said they want the intervention to be effective and sustainable.

“We have already identified possible solutions to the problem. We are looking at resuscitating the Children’s Centre which will be well resourced with social workers that will be employed by the Municipality. The opportunities provided by Expanded Public Works Programme will also be explored to assist us in providing them with jobs and sustainable livelihoods,” said Nxumalo.

Next week, the task team is expected to report to EXCO on their implementation plan and recommendations.

The City Manager, Sibusiso Sithole, said this initiative is part of the Clean My City Programme which will address the social ills in our community.

“There are already structures in place to deal with the problems at Albert Park. Last year we launched the Qalakabusha Programme to facilitate the rehabilitation of drug-addicts and vagrants and to integrate them back to their respective communities. In the process we profiled 354 people and got a better understanding of who these people are, where they come from and how they can be assisted. The existing structure will form part of the task team to come up with a multi disciplinary approach to fight crime, drugs and vagrancy in Albert Park,” said Sithole.

ENDS

For more information please contact Thabo Mofokeng on 082 731 7456/ 031 311 4820 or e-mail thabo1.mofokeng@durban.gov.za

Issued by the eThekwini Municipality’s Communications Unit, Simphiwe Dlamini 031 311 4850/0827926899 or e-mail:simphiwe.dlamini@durban.gov.za