‘Comply with building bylaws’ – Masango

The Department of Development Planning is deeply saddened by the untimely death of three brave fire fighters and rescue workers, who lost their lives in the line of duty on Wednesday, 5 September 2018.
Our thoughts and prayers are with their loved ones who are left behind. We further wish those who are hospitalised, a speedy recovery.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Development Planning, Cllr Reuben Masango, said that the burning of the Gauteng Department of Health Building in the CBD “brings about a tragic revelation on the importance of compliance to building regulations and other Bylaws in the City of Johannesburg”.
Law enforcement officials from the Department yesterday visited the site and will compile a report that will guide Development Planning, and the City, at large, on how we can work together with all stakeholders to ensure the safety of buildings in Johannesburg.
“The need for compliance is high up on the Department’s list of priorities, as it not only ensures the safety of the people who immediately occupy these buildings, but also those who will occupy them in decades to come,” MMC Masango added.
This comes on the backdrop of the collapse of a second storey building, built on top of an RDP house in Cosmo City, last week, injuring three people and damaging two adjacent homes.
Development Planning in August initiated the enforcement of outstanding court orders and conducted the demolitions of illegals structures plaguing our City.
Two business structures in Northcliff and Cyrildene, respectively, have already been demolished since the start of the demolition campaign.
The next demolitions are scheduled to take place at two households in Cosmo City and Rabie Ridge next week.
Members of the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) will today accompany the law enforcement team to visit the two households to prepare them to relocate their personal belongings from the illegal structures, ahead of the demolitions.
Details of the scheduled demolitions will be communicated in due course.
We once again appeal to all residents, developers and other stakeholders of the City to comply with all building regulations and other safety Bylaws.
Those who fail to comply will face the full might of the law through the law enforcement process, which includes a rates and taxes penalty tariff increase, and possible prosecution at the City’s Municipal Courts.
To report any illegal buildings and illegal land uses, contact your local regional officer is all seven regions (A-G), or the Building Development Directorate office on the 6th floor of the Metro Centre on 158 Loveday Street.
Alternatively, Building Law Enforcement Administrator, Mrendeni Lieba, can be contacted on 0114076932 or liebam@joburg.org.za.
Illegal land uses can be reported to Roweena Chetty at the Planning Law Enforcement Unit of the Land Use Development Management Directorate on: RoweenaC@joburg.org.za.
“We all have a role to play in turning Johannesburg around and making it work; because, like the Executive Mayor, Cllr Herman Mashaba always says, a Johannesburg that works, is a South Africa that works.

“Illegal building and land uses not only affect property owners around your area; they have a significant effect on the City’s infrastructure.
“We appeal to all residents, developers and stakeholders to refrain from illegal activities, and play their part in bringing Johannesburg back to its former glory,” said MMC Masango.