The City of Cape Town has issued fines to the National Department of Public Works (DPW) following long-term efforts to get conditions addressed at two hi-jacked sites owned by national government. The sites are at 2 Keizersgracht Road, District Six, and 1 Jan Smuts Drive, Maitland.
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Both properties have been formally declared as problem buildings. Signage has also been erected informing the public of the action being taken by the City in response to ongoing drug and crime complaints from the public.
Following investigations by the City’s Problem Building Unit, contravention notices were issued to DPW with an order to correct violations of the Problem Building By-Law 2019.
The City always first issues a request to a building owner to remedy the by-law violations. In these instances, DPW’s failure to act has now resulted in a problem building declaration for both of these sites, with fines issued. The City may further consider appointing an administrator for the buildings, with the cost to be billed to national government. If the buildings cannot be restored, it may be necessary to approach a court to authorise the sale or demolition of the buildings.
‘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.
Problem Building Complaints can be reported to the City’s 24-hour emergency control room on 021 4807700 or 107 from a landline.
CAPTION: The City issued a fine and erected problem building signage at 2 Keizersgracht Road, District Six on Friday 24 May in response to ongoing drug and crime complaints from the public. Signage was also erected at 1 Jan Smuts Drive, Maitland.
Supplied by: City of Cape Town
