Court permits demolition of illegal Pta West buildings
The City of Tshwane has been given permission by the courts to demolish illegally constructed buildings in Pretoria West.
Tshwane turned to the courts after it discovered that the buildings were constructed without approved plans, violating municipal by-laws and presenting serious public safety risks.
The court has now given the city the green light to enforce its urban planning regulations.
MMC for Corporate and Shared Services, Kholofelo Morodi, said while the city understands the impact on residents and businesses, it remains the government’s responsibility to ensure public safety and uphold the law.
“To that end, the MMC for Economic Development and Spatial Planning, Sarah Mabotsa, and I will work together to ensure that residents of unlawfully erected buildings are advised of alternative places of residence and work diligently to get building owners to comply with city ordinances and by-laws,” said Morodi.
The MMC added that all structures must meet safety and zoning standards to prevent unsafe living conditions and illegal land use.
“These structures, erected by George Asaba, were built in violation of the National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act and do not comply with the zoning requirements of the properties,” said Morodi.
Tshwane also warned property owners and developers to adhere to all building regulations and secure necessary approvals before starting construction.
Failure to comply could lead to legal action, including demolitions at the owner’s expense.
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