By Zusiphe Adonisi
Deputy Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Sihle Zikalala, says the Durban High Court renovations will be done by November 2026.
Zikalala undertook an oversight visit to the Durban High Court, which has been undergoing renovations since 2021. The site visit follows concerns about the delayed project, which has faced delays for more than a year, as it was expected to have been completed by September 2025.
“We would want to see the project completed on time, handed over in November, and we want to think that there are no financial escalations; we are still within the budget,” said Zikalala.
Zikalala said that this is one of the department’s projects that were advanced in terms of timelines and budget. He added that this project will be completed within the allocated budget.
“This is one area where we have experienced the arrest of those who came from business forums to demand work by force,” he said.
Regional director of construction project management, Thuthuka Mbhele, stipulated that business forums led to a two-week delay in the construction progress. He added that the major delay was financing from the Department of Justice.
Mbhele shared that they have worked hand in hand with Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) to ensure that unemployed people from the eThekwini Municipality benefit from this project.
“At least 94 EPWP NYS participants were trained as Supervisors in Construction Processes (SCP), and the programme was delivered successfully. This enabled some SCP participants to venture into self-employment livelihoods within eThekwini Metro,” said Mbhele.
Director of Facilities and Security Management at the Office of the Chief Justice, Prabagaran Naidoo, commended the renovations done by the DPWI at the Durban High Court.
“We cannot wait to move; we have been in temporary accommodation for the last five years. This is how a court should really be; we are excited,” he said.
