DA seeks answers over decade-long delay of PMB library
The library was first announced in 2014, with construction expected to begin in October that year and completion initially set for February 2016.
The DA in KZN has called for answers over a more than decade-long delay in the construction of a state-of-the-art community library in Imbali, Pietermaritzburg.
In a statement issued on Friday, DA KwaZulu-Natal spokesperson on sports, arts and culture, Tammy Colley, said the party had submitted written parliamentary questions to the provincial Department of Sports, Arts and Culture (DSAC) seeking clarity on the stalled project.
ALSO READ | WATCH | Residents welcome new library as boost for education and access
According to the DA, the library was first announced in 2014, with construction expected to begin in October that year and completion initially set for February 2016.
However, the project did not materialise, and it was only in March 2024 that a sod-turning ceremony signalled a possible restart.
Colley said a recent oversight inspection by DA public representatives found that no construction work was currently taking place at the site.
“The site is secured, but there is no contractor on site and no visible construction activity,” she said.
She added that the party had been informed by a community liaison officer that work had stopped due to non-payment.
Colley said the delays were concerning, given the role libraries play in communities.
“Libraries are integral parts of communities, offering safe and quiet spaces for learning, access to resources and connectivity,” she said.
She said residents of Imbali had effectively been deprived of access to the facility for more than a decade.
ALSO READ | Library closures disrupt pupils during exam crunch
The DA has called for urgent intervention by the department, saying the project should not face further delays.
The Department of Sports, Arts and Culture had not responded to requests for comment at the time of publication.
