Former Durban Funworld owner Nic Steyn said that adequate maintenance of the machinery at the newly proposed Durban Amusement Theme Park is critical to its survival.

Steyn voiced his opinion on Wednesday’s announcement regarding the new amusement park slated for the former Funworld location, which is expected to open by 2027.

He acknowledged that those involved in the development might not appreciate his remarks, but he stressed his belief that they should reconsider the project and adopt a more realistic approach.

The Durban Amusement Park will introduce a globally benchmarked collection of attractions, including:

• Lighting Roller Coaster: a neon-lit 500m track reaching speeds of up to 86km/h.
• Disco 24 and Vertical Swing: high-adrenaline signature rides.
• 1500m² Virtual Reality Theme Park featuring more than 160 interactive games and global e-sports activations.

The former Durban Funworld closed on May 1, 2023. It had approximately 15 adult and children’s rides as well as statues and arcade games. The lease had expired in 2017, and Steyn had been on a month-to-month basis.

eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba said the request for proposal (RFP) was issued in December 2023 and closed in March 2024.

Masithu Consulting and Project Managers (MCPM) was appointed by the municipality to manage the delivery of this “modern” urban development project, according to Xaba.

He noted that Masithu possesses over 17 years of experience in managing massive projects.

Steyn, in his opinion, and speaking from what he had read in the media, stated that R1 billion is a staggering amount of money.

“I don’t know who has put their projections together, but I get the impression that they’re totally out of touch with the economic reality of the Durban beachfront. How they hope to make a return on that investment on the beachfront, and repay that capital to whomever, is beyond me. I can’t believe that the financiers did enough due diligence on this,” Steyn said.

He was also concerned about the projected employment numbers that were announced by the municipality, which are 900 construction jobs and 500 permanent jobs.

Steyn expressed doubts about the sustainability of the project.

“The overheads will be staggering. Invariably, the first casualty from the exorbitant overheads will be adequate maintenance of the machinery. I know from experience that not maintaining a water park adequately is one thing. Adequately maintaining an amusement park is critical. People are riding on those amusement machines. There are lives at risk,” he stated.

“Personally, I think it’s going to become another very expensive mistake, like uShaka and the Moses Mabhida Stadium. I could be wrong; after all, what do I know? Our family has been in this business on Durban’s beachfront for about 80 years,” Steyn remarked.

The municipality said that the project sponsor has invested over R9 million toward early-stage development work, including feasibility studies, technical assessments, financial modelling, legal consultations, and professional services.

Xaba said the municipality is succeeding in creating a conducive environment for the private sector to grow the tourism sector in Durban.

He explained that the municipality’s contribution of the leasehold land remains a crucial enabler in the project’s funding structure.

Xaba said two Italian-based global leaders in amusement engineering, namely Team Park Project (TPP) and Zamperla, would be involved in the project.

The TTP has contributed to major global attractions such as Ferrari World in the UAE, Fun World Taupo in New Zealand, and other flagship parks across Europe, the United States, and Asia.

Meanwhile, Zamperla is operating in more than 95 countries, with over 3,200 installations, including Disneyland Paris, Universal Studios, and Coney Island’s Luna Park.

zainul.dawood@inl.co.za.

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