• Library first announced in 2014 with completion due 2016.
• Sod-turning took place in 2024.
• Recent oversight reveals no construction taking place.
Note to Editors: Please note Tammy Colley, MPL sound bite in English
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has submitted written parliamentary questions (view here) to KwaZulu-Natal’s (KZN) Department of Sports, Arts and Culture (DSAC) regarding the more than a decade long delay in the completion of a community library in Imbali, Msunduzi.
In 2014 the former MEC for Arts and Culture announced that the state-of-the art facility – valued at R65million – would begin in October that year, with completion due in February 2016. Sadly, this promise to the Imbali community was not realised.
Eight years later – in March 2024 – there was a glimmer of hope with a sod-turning event for the project. Regrettably, this too has come to nothing. (view here)
A recent oversight inspection by DA public representatives revealed that while the site was secured, no construction was taking place. Access was not permitted as the contractor was not on site. We were informed by the Community Liaison Officer that work had stopped due to non-payment.
Libraries are integral parts of communities, offering safe and quite places for learning, access to resources and connectivity.
In an ideal world, residents of Imbali would have had access to library services for more than a decade by now. They and other communities in our province cannot afford to have such critical facilities unnecessarily delayed.
The DA, as a responsible partner within KZN’s Government of Provincial Unity (GPU) will insist on swift intervention by DSAC. This important facility must not be stalled any longer.