Cape warns on illegal buildings
8 March 2010, 11:03
Illegally-built buildings in Cape Town face possible demolition, the city warned on Monday.
It should not be assumed the council would simply approve such buildings afterwards, Cape Town's communications department said in a statement.
Its warning comes after the city's spatial planning, environment and land use management committee turned down an application by the owners of the Rondebosch Medical Centre to rezone the erf on which it is built in order to "legalise" parts of the building.
"The owners of the medical centre submitted building plans to the city in 2006 to alter the building... in such a way as to utilise it as a hospital. These plans were approved. However, the owners proceeded to construct additions for which there were no approved plans."
The committee had decided that the owners' application to have the property rezoned be refused.
However, they had the right to appeal this decision, which could "give them a chance to address all the shortcomings of their application".
The city would launch a "full-scale investigation" into how the owners managed to continue building the hospital, and why they were occupying the building without an occupational certificate.
"Owners who build illegally cannot simply assume that council will approve their illegally built building afterwards and will face the consequence of possible demolition," the city said. - Sapa
It should not be assumed the council would simply approve such buildings afterwards, Cape Town's communications department said in a statement.
Its warning comes after the city's spatial planning, environment and land use management committee turned down an application by the owners of the Rondebosch Medical Centre to rezone the erf on which it is built in order to "legalise" parts of the building.
"The owners of the medical centre submitted building plans to the city in 2006 to alter the building... in such a way as to utilise it as a hospital. These plans were approved. However, the owners proceeded to construct additions for which there were no approved plans."
The committee had decided that the owners' application to have the property rezoned be refused.
However, they had the right to appeal this decision, which could "give them a chance to address all the shortcomings of their application".
The city would launch a "full-scale investigation" into how the owners managed to continue building the hospital, and why they were occupying the building without an occupational certificate.
"Owners who build illegally cannot simply assume that council will approve their illegally built building afterwards and will face the consequence of possible demolition," the city said. - Sapa
Pretoria
