Ward 32, eThekwini Municipality councillor, Petros Mngonyama said that security has been beefed-up and the vagrants will no longer return to Albert Park.
Image: Sibonelo Ngcobo/ Independent Newspapers
Albert Park in Durban, went from the “most vibrant place to be” in the 1800s, to a drug den for vagrants from the 1990s, is now being revived with the aim of returning it to its former glory.
The Park, named after Prince Albert, the consort of Queen Victoria, was officially declared a public park in 1864. It was initially 385 hectares, but portions were sold for housing by 1875.
It was a prestigious residential area for white residents since the 1800s, a leisure and entertainment destination, offering high-rise accommodations for white civil servants.
In the late 1980s, Albert Park experienced a “greying” as people of colour migrated to the area, overcoming challenges of racial segregation and discriminatory evictions.
An areal view of Albert Park before its decline, which led to it being occupied by the homeless.
Image: Supplied
Mandisa Dlamini, a retired nurse who has been an Albert Park resident for 27 years, said the area had lost its appeal and was the not same as when she bought her apartment.
“When we came here (Albert Park), we used to walk at night to have meals at any time. There was no crime, the place was well looked after. We used to have braais and lots of events that kept the place abuzz.
“The Music Centre was a church mostly used by white people, and most of us (black people) would join the services, and it was a networking session for us,” Dlamini said.
She said that she was considering moving from Albert Park, but after the clean-up spearheaded by ward 32 councillor, Protas Mngonyama, which has resolved the issue of vagrants, she sees hope and has halted relocation plans.
“There is hope, because they have successfully dealt with the vagrants issue. It shows they are committed to fixing Albert Park now,” Dlamini said.
She said despite the crime and grime in the area, her apartment complex was safe, with 24-hour security and cameras and no break-ins for the almost three decades she has lived there.
“We are a family in Albert Park, we look after each other,” she said.
Albert Park will remain closed for three months to allow for the grass to grow.
Image: Sibonelo Ngcobo/ Independent Newspapers
Amongst the things she doesn’t like about the area now is the noise on Friday nights from the nightclubs, and the stench of urine, which makes the place unhygienic.
She hopes that bylaws will be enforced to ensure that people who own shops take responsibility for the cleanliness in the areas where they operate.
Illa Thompson, a Durban publicist, reminisced about her days as a young journalist for Independent Newspapers in the 1980s, where she spent her time at Albert Park.
“It used to be a smart place to go to and had excellent views of the harbour. There was a bowling club, restaurants, a tennis court, etc. We would meet friends for drinks or a date there.
“Pinnkie Mtshali, the much loved larger-than-life singer, had a flamboyant apartment in Albert Park. Her flat was full of fluff and lace - too fabulous! She has since passed away. Even the parents of the then chief executive of Independent Newspapers stayed in Albert Park,” Thompson said.
She recalled that the black, white, young, old, poor and rich got along really well in Albert Park, and there was even a basketball league.
"A fabulous theatre friend, Trevor Yates, lived in Albert Park. He had made a tiny theatre in the basement of his building where he used to entertain the local kids. I remember seeing the old classic, Dinner for One, performed by him and his wife," she said.
The Folk Club at the Plaza Hotel was famous for unplugged acoustic music.
“I went there with the late photographer from Independent Newspapers, Grant Erskine, who was a regular there.
“The Durban Music School in Albert Park is the old harbour master’s house, opposite Diakonia Council of Churches. The Diakonia Centre was a hub of activity in old South Africa, with many of the activist organisations having offices there. There were times when police/army vehicles used to park in front of the Centre, surveying all of us activists inside. Many important meetings were held there,” Thompson said.
Over the years, she said, those who could afford to move away relocated to the suburbs like Hillcrest and other areas.
In the past few weeks, vagrants were removed from the park and there was a joint clean-up where piles of rubbish were removed by city employees, metro police, community members and other stakeholders.
It was quickly used as one of the fan parks during the soccer derby between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates. eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba watched the football match from Albert Park.
The Umbilo Business Association has since welcomed the removal of the homeless.
By Wednesday, no vagrants were seen entering the now-fenced Albert Park. At least four security officers were spotted, and there were also four large guard dogs. New LED lights have been installed after "the vagrants stole the previously existing electric equipment".
In some parts of the park, there were traces of drug usage. Used injections, glass pipes, razors, and empty bottles of some drugs, amongst others. There was also a bank card, which may have been from someone robbed by vagrants.
The councillor said that they also recovered identity documents and driver’s licences.
Councillor Mngonyama said following the removal of vagrants, the park will close for three months to allow for the grass to grow and for the park to be restored.
A pile of compost was spotted at the park and Mngonyama said the eThekwini Municipality’s Parks and Recreation Unit was going to use it to fix parts that had no grass at all.
“We want to return Albert Park to its former glory. After three months, the public will be able to enjoy the park again. They will be able to hold events, like weddings, birthday parties, etc. The damaged infrastructure will also be fixed.
“The Park is clean, and will remain closed to all activities for three months to allow the grass to grow so that we can rehabilitate and renovate it,” Mngonyama said.
He added that they are in talks with the business sector to add their contribution to the revival of the park.
“The park is very big, so we want part of it to be occupied by big business, not spaza shops, which might end up attracting the vagrants again. We are going to have a swimming pool, a community hall, and a pedestrian bridge connecting Wilson’s Wharf and Albert Park. This place will become a tourist attraction and generate revenue.
“We want to bring in more activities and eliminate spaces that end up being used by vagrants,” Mngonyama said.
gcwalisile.khanyile@inl.co.za