Medical Officer's annual report [to] Durban Corporation.

  • Durban (South Africa). Public Health Department.
Date:
[1969]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Medical Officer's annual report [to] Durban Corporation. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    154/166 (page 144)
    The premises concerned were occupied by various race groups including 88 by Indians, 37 by Coloureds, 24 by Europeans and two by Bantu, Premises occupied by more than one group comprised 42, A number of the properties were multi-unit in layout, ranging from two dwelling units in some cases to six in others, making an overall total of 265 buildings. Occupants comprised 706 family units of 3?291 persons. The Slum Clearance Court was convened on 45 occasions and, after due enquiry, issued slum declarations respecting 58 premises. The Court ordered demolition in the majority of cases, the remainder being to repair and renovate. Not all cases presented were declared slums as these were not proceeded with for various reasons, usually because the owners had volunteered to demolish in terms of the Housing Act or the premises were being acquired by one of the official re-housing departments. Since 1965? when slum clearance was resuscitated in Durban, to the end of the current year, this Department dealt with 844 premises involving 1,127 actual buildings. These were occupied by 2,826 family units comprising 14,390 persons. The Slum Clearance Court issued 310 slum declarations, calling for complete demolition in the case of 230 premises, and partial demolition or repair of the remainder. It is significant that many owners when faced with the prospect of action under the Slums Act preferred then to remedy the unsatisfactory structural situation them¬ selves, In this category were 176 properties demolished and 17 repaired. Seventy five premises were acquired by the City Council or the State Department of Community Development and these were not proceeded with under the Act, It is a matter for regret that certain owners or deceased estates resisted compliance with slum court directives within a reasonable period and were prosecuted by this department in consequence. There were 38 cases instituted from which fines or admissions of guilt re¬ covered amounted to R660, G, DEMOLITIONS AND CONVERSIONS In terms of the Housing Act no person may demolish, or convert to other use, housing accommodation without the approval of the Minister, for which purpose application must first be lodged with the local authority.