Umhlanga Ratepayers Serve Legal Letter to Halt Construction at Landmark Shopping Centre
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The Umhlanga Ratepayers and Residents Association has demanded Pythia Property stop construction at Umhlanga Centre over structural safety and compliance concerns, while the operator denies any illegal work.
Umhlanga Centre, a landmark shopping complex in Durban’s affluent northern suburb, has been served with a legal letter demanding an immediate halt to construction work amid concerns over structural integrity and public safety.
The letter, seen by IOL, was sent by the Umhlanga Ratepayers and Residents Association (URRA) to Pythia Property, which operates the centre and has a SUPERSPAR supermarket as its anchor tenant. The property group has rejected the allegations, while URRA has warned it will pursue legal action if construction continues.
URRA chairperson Terri MacLarty said residents were frustrated by developments taking place without adequate community consultation, adding that ratepayers had “had enough” of construction that affects them but excludes them from decisions. She said the cease-and-desist demand would set a precedent that community voices must be consulted.
In its letter of demand, URRA called for all construction work to cease until the relevant authorities and suitably qualified professionals have established that the development complies with all statutory and regulatory requirements, including the necessary approvals, permits, inspections, certifications and safety standards. The association said it had engaged representatives of eThekwini Municipality and understood that serious concerns had been raised about an extended retaining wall and the possibility of structural failure or collapse, and that a further stop-work or contravention notice had been issued in relation to the property.
URRA said the matter was expected to be referred to the municipality’s legal department for consideration of further enforcement action, potentially including an application for a court interdict. It further alleged that construction had disrupted electricity, fibre-optic and telecommunications infrastructure, raising concerns about fire and electrical safety compliance and the potential exposure of tenants, residents and the public to unsafe conditions.
Pythia Property director Ashraf Mohamed denied the allegations, saying there was no illegal construction and that issues caused by rain were being addressed. He said one tenant had installed fibre cables that did not meet legal requirements, which the company was addressing, and that it would meet URRA’s lawyers. URRA maintained that the property group must provide full disclosure of all building plans, permissions and regulatory approvals, and called on eThekwini Municipality, the building inspectorate, fire and emergency services, health authorities, the SAPS and Metro Police to investigate.