City council approves R14m cash injection for uShaka Marine World

THE uShaka Marine World is experiencing financial challenges and will receive a R14 million cash injection so that it remains a going concern.

- ZAINUL DAWOOD [e-mail]

The majority of eThekwini councillors approved the payment to the Durban Marine Theme Park (DMTP) which is controlled by the municipality, at a council meeting yesterday.

The theme park and aquarium is located along the City's main beachfront and was conceived as part of the redevelopment of the Waterfront in 2003. The objectives of the creation of uShaka Marine was for it to be a strategic tourism facility for the City of Durban as well as the province of KwaZulu-Natal as a whole.

uShaka Marine World entered into an indefinite agreement with the South African Association for Marine Biological Research (SAAMBR), a Non-Profit Organisation, in which SAAMBR is responsible for the operations of Sea World. In return and provided for in the Heads of Agreement, the Municipal Entity is responsible for providing funding for their operations, stated a municipal report.