The City of Cape Town has fined the National Department of Public Works (DPW) after long-term efforts to address conditions at two hijacked sites owned by the national government.
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The properties, located at 2 Keizersgracht Road in District Six and 1 Jan Smuts Drive in Maitland, have been officially declared problem buildings. Signs have been erected to inform the public about the City’s response to ongoing drug and crime complaints.
After investigations by the City’s Problem Building Unit, contravention notices were issued to DPW, ordering them to correct violations of the Problem Building By-Law 2019.
The City typically first requests a building owner to address by-law violations. In these cases, DPW’s failure to act led to the problem building declaration and the issuance of fines. The City may also consider appointing an administrator for the buildings, with costs billed to the national government.
If the buildings cannot be restored, it may be necessary to seek court authorisation for their sale or demolition.
‘These properties are a source of drugs and crime complaints from the public, and I welcome the swift action of our officials in investigating and fining the building owner.
‘The problem building declaration is an important step, especially to ensure that life-threatening safety issues are addressed at these buildings to avoid fatal consequences such as with the Marshalltown fire in Johannesburg.
‘Our officials are taking action on a rolling basis across the city, and we call on residents to help us by reporting problem building complaints,’ said Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis.
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Picture: Supplied