The Warwick Avenue Museum Committee has faced nearly a decade of delays in securing a lease for a municipal property in Durban, raising concerns about local governance and the impact on cultural heritage and economic development. The Warwick Avenue Museum (WAM) Committee (NPO 184-411) is requesting to lease a municipal property situated at 40 Wills Road, Durban (Portion 7 of Erf 6150 Durban) from October 2015.

The committee intended to raise funds to repair the building and transform it into a museum. This property was saved from demolition in the 1970s during the Group Areas Act. More than 95 % of the houses were demolished in the area. Thus, it would be beneficial to remember what existed in the Warwick Precinct decades ago.
Similar museums: District Six (Cape Town), Sophia Town (Johannesburg), South End (Port Elizabeth).


The WAM Committee has faced nearly a decade of delays in securing a lease from the eThekwini Municipality. This prolonged process highlights inefficiencies within local governance and raises questions about the municipality's commitment to cultural heritage, job creation, and economic development.

Key Highlights

The Warwick Avenue Museum Committee was formed in 2015 to promote local history and culture.

TIMELINE OF EVENTS

There are more than 150 emails shared between the committee members and various officials in the eThekwini Municipality.

Municipal Gains and Losses

The protracted negotiations have not only led to the deterioration of 40 Wills Road but also significant financial losses in ten years for the municipality, including:

Zero property rates income.
Decreased tourism potential.
Increased instances of property vandalism and theft.
Revenue loss from Illegal water and electricity connections
Degeneration of the surrounding streets and roads

Recommendations
Streamline the lease process to enhance transparency.
Address corruption and inefficiencies in the municipal departments.
Educate officials on the Batho Pele principles to improve service delivery.
Engage more actively with cultural and community stakeholders.
Enforce consequence management
A proper investigation should be conducted into this matter to find the root cause of procedural delays


Conclusion

The Warwick Avenue Museum Committee's experience underscores urgent needs for reform within the eThekwini Municipality. The city must prioritise cultural initiatives that can drive community engagement and economic growth rather than allowing bureaucratic delays to undermine potential benefits. The question remains, WHY? Why has it taken the municipality 10 years?

Committee members if you have read this far, I thank you. Do not listen to the eThekwini municipality's false response or reply to your query. I will present the committee with facts and emails