Building regulations – reader desperate for help
"We printed the certificate and went back to the municipality offices to hand it in only to be told that our file is missing."
![building](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2021/10/building.jpg)
Editor – I am enquiring about contact details to report illegal constructions and where to report incompetent staff at the municipality offices.
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I am one of the many frustrated residents who has had to wait over a year for the house plan to be approved. I am still waiting and last time my file went “missing”.
I went through the same thing a few years back as well when I needed a house plan approved and I was hoping that this time around things would be different.
The inspector said everything is fine and he just needed me to submit a zoning certificate with a watermark. He referred me to an office upstairs, where I was told to send an email requesting this certificate.
We did that and a few days later we were asked to send a proof of payment which we did the same day. There was then no response for over a month until we went to check on what was the problem.
We were told that this service was outsourced and the ladies that are responsible for issuing certificates have network problems.
The manager promised to follow up but he also ended up not answering our calls.
A month went by and in December (two months later) we were sent this certificate with no apology nor explanation for the delay.
We printed the certificate and went back to the municipality offices to hand it in only to be told that our file is missing.
Mind you, you need to take a day off just to go sit there and wait to make sure that your stuff is attended to plus the inspector only comes twice a week.
Silindile.
Editor’s comment – The City of Ekurhuleni had a meeting with Mr Shabane on January 28 and the file is not lost.
The zoning certificate was still outstanding, but he brought it in. It is regrettable that he was not assisted before.
We will proceed with the application and update when there’s progress.
He was advised to follow up in a week if he is not contacted.
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