Since the project started in September, more than 20 illegal structures and stands have been demolished. These structures included shops and small illegally built businesses, and houses utilised as illegal boarding homes. In all cases the owners failed to comply with legislation and were not able to ratify the structures.
There are still hundreds of illegal structures in municipal areas and more cases have been referred to court as all requests and instructions from the municipality failed to rectify the situation.
“This (illegal buildings) is a very big problem in eMalahleni. We are already experiencing problems with water, sewerage blockages and electricity, there is no room in the system for illegal buildings worsening the situation by overburdening and over populating the city,” a staff member of the Building Section recently said.
The municipality, in collaboration with the Building Section, Law Enforcement Unit, Red Ants and SAPS are making good progress with the demolition project and will continue through the city as more demolition orders are processed.
“Building Control already issued 197 final Notices on home owners with illegal buildings and with non-compliance on land use regulations around the CBD area Witbank Extension 1, 3, 12 and 8. On the stated notice given we are in process to obtain Court Orders to demolish the said structures,” said Mr Lebohang Mofokeng, spokesperson for the municipality.
Not everyone in the community seems to be pleased about the continuation of the demolition project. Apart from complaints that the demolition of structures leaves behind ‘unsightly rubble’ for some time, Mr Paki Maseko, regional chairperson of Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) of Azania also issued a statement saying that people’s livelihood is ‘unjustly’ demolished with the illegal buildings.
“With the decided Emalahleni Municipality Council to demolish backyard rooms that do not conform to ‘quote’ municipal rules, here is a friendly reminder to our sister organization in council: most of these houses in the township have adults born and raised there and have own children there in a one-bedroom, four-room house. These people are still waiting for RDP houses 20 years on; yes waiting because they do not want to grab some land somewhere,” the statement read.
Maseko made it clear that PAC does not approve of the project and further quoted: “What kind of law says only two back rooms must be built in the backyard even when there is space for 10 more.”
The press release from the municipality was however clear that law must be obeyed and that plans are needed to make provision for extra waste disposal, water, etc.
“The National Building Regulations (NBR) serve to provide for the promotion of uniformity in the law relating to the erection of buildings in the area of jurisdiction of local authorities; for the promotion of building standards and specifications as per approved building plans; in order to ensure safe and healthy environment for all. These standards and specifications are laid down in the National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act (Act103 of 1977).
Any person intending to erect any building shall submit to the local authority the following plans and particulars together with the application:
*Site plan
*Layout plan drawings
*Drainage installation drawing
Such plans and particulars as may be required by the Local council in respect of:-
*General structural arrangements, subject to any requirements contained in these regulations with regard to design of the structural system.
*General arrangements of artificial ventilation.
*A fire protection plan.
Footage of an enraged Ms Eunice Jabar when two Wendy houses were demolished at her guesthouse and the electricity was switched off.
