Numerous landowners in Cape Town have been surreptitiously attempting to claim portions of the city’s coastline for private use. The City’s comprehensive assessment of the 240-kilometre-long coastal stretch has revealed over 200 instances of unauthorised encroachments, as revealed in the latest report released on Tuesday.
These illicit encroachments encompass a range of activities, including the establishment of unlawful lawns, decks, trampolines, sea defence structures, pools and even restaurant spaces.
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According to TimesLive, the audited encroachments have been identified both along the Atlantic Seaboard and the False Bay coastline.
‘Pre-notices and final notices to remove these unlawful structures and to rehabilitate the affected areas have been served on some owners, and more will follow in coming months,’ the City said.
The City administration has taken swift action in response to this issue. Initial pre-notices and subsequent final notices have been dispatched to certain property owners, instructing them to dismantle these unlawful structures and initiate remediation efforts for the impacted areas. In the coming months, additional notices are slated to be issued to other landowners involved in similar violations.
Eddie Andrews, who leads the City’s spatial planning and environmental efforts, emphasised the binding nature of the coastal bylaw. This legislation explicitly prohibits any form of encroachment installation or the knowing tolerance of existing encroachments, regardless of whether they are of a permanent or temporary nature.
Andrews expanded on the definition of an encroachment, clarifying that it encompasses a broad spectrum of structures and constructions, encompassing items such as fences, walls, barriers, swimming pools, irrigation systems, landscaping, gardening and infilling activities.
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In a fervent plea directed at the recipients of these legal notices, Andrews urged prompt compliance with the directives and the commencement of the required rehabilitation endeavours.
City officials have been tasked with overseeing the adherence to these mandates, conducting thorough inspections of the identified sites to verify compliance.
Andrews concluded by issuing a stern cautionary statement, asserting that the City administration will not hesitate to resort to legal measures if circumstances warrant such action.
‘I appeal to those who have received these notices to comply and to undertake the necessary rehabilitation work as soon as possible. City officials will inspect these sites to ensure compliance. I want to add that we will not hesitate to take legal action where necessary,’ he warned.
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