Mendi dream slowly turns into reality

The first construction phase of New Brighton’s long-awaited Mendi multipurpose cultural centre is nearly complete, following years of delays.

The construction work will see the historic Mendi bottle store transformed into a R43-million multipurpose centre. The project was first proposed in 2014 but was delayed due to workers being robbed, contractors being changed and SMME protests. Architect Tony Daneuz, of The Matrix Urban Designers and Architects, said 95% of the first phase had been completed. This includes converting the old beer hall into a cultural centre with offices and a foyer. “We hope to be done by the end of February or beginning of March. We are only left with a few touch-ups,” he said. Illegally dumped refuse that surrounded the Mendi bottle store has also been cleared. Nomvuyiso Manyi, 48, of New Brighton, said residents were hopeful that the centre would be completed soon.

“We have seen contractors come and go. There was a time when the local SMMEs closed the project. As residents we had lost hope in the completion of this but now we can see something is happening,” Manyi said.