eThekwini Municipality tackles hijacked, unsafe buildings

The eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality has intensified its collaboration with property owners in a bid to eradicate unsafe buildings within the inner city.

This comes after the establishment of a new unit, the Problem Buildings Division, which is dedicated to tackling unsafe buildings.

“Problem buildings” are defined as derelict, abandoned, hijacked, structurally unsound and unlawfully erected, among other things.

Through the Problem Buildings Division, the city’s vision is to create a vibrant inner city, underpinned by well-managed buildings.

The division encourages property owners, whose buildings have been deemed unsafe for occupation, to contact them or face future closure.

Deputy City Manager of Economic Development, Lihle Phewa, said these buildings present social issues, which include homelessness, crime and drugs, which are often found in such buildings.

Phewa said the division has already identified approximately 40 buildings within the city and has started the process to serve relevant notices.

This is done in accordance with the National Building Regulations and Standards Act, and the Problem Building by-laws.

“If there is non-compliance by the property owner after the notice period has expired, the municipality will approach the High Court to carry out remedial work, apply for a demolition order, request for the appointment of a judicial administrator, request for a sale in execution, or expropriate the property and building.

“All costs incurred will be to the owner’s account. Owners can however, partner with the municipality to put together an action plan with time frames on how to turn the problem building around,” Phewa said.

Phewa highlighted the recent eviction of illegal occupants from Crieff Place Building, South Beach, as among the division’s successes.

Following a court process, the owner of the property was able to evict the illegal occupants and proceeded to demolish the vacant building. However, the owner left a portion of the superstructure and did not fully secure the property.

The owner had also left rubble from the demolition process on site to ensure that the site was not occupied again, but the sheltered portion of the remaining superstructure was occupied shortly after.

“The Problem Building Division engaged unsuccessfully with the owner to secure the property. The division took the decision to remedy the works on site by removing the rubble, repairing, and closing all the openings to the site, and installing barbed wire to the tops of the boundary wall to prevent any person from occupying the site,” Phewa said.