For 55 years, miniature replicas of Durban landmarks sat behind the walls of an understated tourist attraction — Minitown.
eThekwini Municipality now has big plans for the prime spot where 8,000 people visit the miniature town each month.
“The much-loved Minitown, which has been one of the city’s most popular places to visit, will undergo a total transformation, with a mixed-use hotel development which will encompass arts and crafts, kiosks for small businesses, retail spaces, a salon and spa, dining, and others. This will create about 150 jobs with a R170m investment by the lessee on a 30-year lease,” municipal spokesperson Lindiwe Khuzwayo said.
The city said affected businesses include Minitown as well as eateries Circus Circus and Bike and Bean.
Desmond Deonarain, who manages Minitown, has heard about the plan but not the details of where and how it will fit into the bigger picture. He hasn’t seen an artist’s impression and does not know who was awarded the new lease.
He told TimesLIVE Premium that businesses along the beachfront were given notice about the upgrade on the beachfront.
Minitown was not given a date to vacate.
“We are continuing to do business as normal. eThekwini municipality is working with Minitown to find a way to relocate,” he said.
Khuzwayo said the popular Circus Circus was being renovated to “a stunning fusion of Africanism and Art Deco and will be christened Durban Beach Café”.
“The vision of the establishment is to create an iconic tourism destination restaurant while capturing the spirit of the city. The anticipated opening is October 2023 and it will create 45 jobs after construction, including absorbing the current staff of Circus Circus.”
Bike and Bean shut three weeks ago.
Owner Viki Ferreira said: “We were given notice in May 2023 that our lease, for the Bike & Bean beach branch, had not been renewed. While we were sad, we were also incredibly grateful for the all the amazing opportunities we had enjoyed at our very first shop which we opened in 2013, and all the people we met who became our B&B family. One shop, at Country Club beach, soon became four, with B&B coffee shops now in Umhlanga (Forest Café), at On Point and the Bean & Bistro, both at the Waterfront.”
Khuzwayo said: “These developments do not just affect tourism, they accelerate economic empowerment through job creation. Bike and Bean will transform into North Beach Lifestyle, a restaurant that has seen a R300,000 investment injection, with a cool yet classy vibe. It will create about 15 jobs after the revamp is completed.”
The head of the city’s real estate unit, Thapelo Mmusinyane, said 25 properties were advertised between May 2021 and last November.
“Ten awards were made to new lessees. All 10 awards were made to companies that are 100% owned by historically disadvantaged individuals,” he said.
But the city has not revealed the names of the lessees or the finer details of the plans.
“The strategy, adopted in September 2021, enables the municipality to be proactive in alienating surplus land, helping the city to achieve its developmental objectives, stimulate economic activity and BEE, as well as promote economic transformation in the property sector,” said Khuzwayo.
“In terms of the Protection of Personal Information Act the city is unable to release information regarding the awardees unless they give us consent to do so. Unfortunately, we have not been given such authority,” said the city's Gugu Sisilana.
Durban Funworld, an iconic amusement park along the Golden Mile, closed in April.
“The city is working on a tender to attract developers to upgrade the site in line with the zoning of the beachfront. The entire precinct’s look is to be upgraded to meet world-class standards of modern theme parks.
“The property will be going out to tender this year to invite proposals for redevelopment,” the city said at the time.
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