Johannesburg property owners who build illegal structures such as shacks or renovate their houses without the approval of the Town Planning Department will be penalised or face legal action.
This warning was issued by Veli Hlophe, the City of Johannesburg’s Deputy Director of Policy and Revenue Enhancement at a Property Rates Policy meeting at the Protea Glen Library in Soweto on Saturday January 28.
In his presentation to residents of Protea Glen, Protea North, Chiawelo and Naledi Extension, Hlophe said the City was in the process of appointing inspectors to move from street to street to enforce the applicable by-laws.
Residents found to have broken the by-laws would be issued with letters to demolish the illegal structures within 30 days. Should they fail to comply, the City would force them to pay four times their normal rates. If they still fail to do so, it would institute legal action.
Hlophe advised property owners to visit the Town Planning Department or their local municipal offices before renovating their homes or building any structure.
Speaking to a capacity crowd, Hlophe urged property owners to build two metres away from sewer pipes. “If you follow the by-laws you are safe. But if you don’t, you do it at your own peril,” he warned.
He also advised homeowners who had unresolved queries to visit the offices of the Ombudsman.
The City has rolled out a series of Property Rates Policy meetings throughout its seven regions, where residents and other interested parties have been given the opportunity to contribute to the review of the current rates. This process ensures that residents’ voices are heard so the rates policy could remain sustainable and the related tariffs are equitable and affordable.
The City reviews its Property Rates Policy on an annual basis to determine categories of properties to be rated according to a proposed tariff. The due date for all comments, inputs and submissions is 21 February 2017.
The meetings will be wrapped up at the Roodepoort City Hall on February 13. On Saturday, residents expressed their concerns and frustrations with the City, saying they were not consulted when evaluation decisions were made on their properties.
They said they felt the City was hell-bent on making a profit at their expense.
Viviene Saun of Extension 1 in Protea Glen said her neighbourhood flooded when it rained because of the poor storm water drainage system. She said she and her neighbours had suffered severe damage as a result.
Percy Makhajana, also of Protea Glen, was frustrated after he received a R9 700 bill that did not explain what it was for. He said he was sent from pillar to post at the local office.
Oupa Khanyile of Chiawelo said the community was worried about a potential health hazard due to Pikitup failing to collect rubbish bins on scheduled days.
A Naledi resident was hopping mad about the unbearable urine stench emanating from his neighbour’s property.
