The King Sabata Dalindyebo (KSD) Local Municipality has sent the strongest message yet that it will not tolerate illegal land invaders on municipal land.
This after the municipality demolished a nearly complete nine roomed house in the affluent suburb of Southridge today, February 15, after it obtained a court order authorising the demolition.
According to the municipality, the house was built on land that was donated to the municipality by the Department of Public Works in 2017.
The municipality further said legal proceedings are ongoing to obtain court orders to demolish other illegally built houses surrounding the one that was demolished today.
“The house owner was served with a contravention notice in July 2017. Upon receipt of the contravention notice, he responded by visiting the building control inspectorate unit of the municipality. The process was outlined, and proof of ownership and approved building plans were requested from him which he failed to produce,” said acting executive mayor, Councillor Mkhanyiseli Dudumayo.
The municipality then referred the matter to its legal department for actioning and a legal representative was appointed to with a court and demolition permit.
“The order was granted in favour of the municipality and also served to the house owner to demolish the structure for himself within 10 days. The owner did not demolish and when the 10 days’ notice lapsed the municipality sought the assistance of the Sheriff to execute the order,” Dudumayo added.
The house owner was not present at the time of the demolition.