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Businesses in Mthatha, within the King Sabatha Dalindyebo (KSD) Local Municipality jurisdiction, have recently been heavily affected by fire damage.
According to the municipal manager for King Sabatha Dalindyebo Local Municipality, Ngamela Pakade, these buildings include the Transkei Hotel, Grosvenor Hotel, Lewis Stores, and most recently Jimmy’s Spar and Mthatha Pharmacy.
“It is of great loss of livelihoods and the economy of this area, and the municipality is concerned by this. These fires are caused by electrical short circuits, and this usually happens after the buildings had been locked up and there is no-one around.
“Even though the fire brigade’s response is usually swift, fire fighters have to use force to gain entry to extinguish the fire,” said Pakade.
He added that the KSD fire brigade has an inspection team responsible for compliance in buildings and business within KSD.
According to him, upon a satisfactory result of the inspection of the business, a fire compliance certificate is issued for the building housing the business.
He said that in terms of the Protection of Personal Information Act, the municipality has no authority to divulge personal information of the owners of the buildings.
“Transkei Hotel, Grosvenor Hotel and Mthatha Pharmacy owners are currently attending to the matter on building improvements. For Mthatha Pharmacy, the municipality is in the process of engaging with the owner to ensure that the property has approved building plans in place.”
According to him, the municipality has an obligation to ensure enforcement of the Building Management bylaw through ensuring that all buildings are built with approved buildings plans.
He added that the municipality ensures that all approved building plans are inspected in all stages of construction.
“The municipality has developed the Abandoned, Dilapidated, Unsightly Buildings By-Law that will be addressing all property causing nuisance and places of crime, by encouraging and forcing property owners to improve such properties.
“This municipality is currently awaiting the gazette of the above bylaw, as well as the Fence and Fencing By-Law.”
He said that they urge all property and business owners to invest in surge protectors and to be vigilant of any damaged electric wirings, as these may be contributing factors.
