Press Statement Released by Peter Millar, Councillor for ward 41.
There was a fire today (14/05/08) at 381 Pretoria Road, Silverton. A large part of the buildings were badly damaged.
A factory building was erected on this property more than two years ago. It is a residential area. The property is zoned for residential use and has never been rezoned. No plans for the building were ever submitted to or approved by the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality. No occupation certificate was ever issued.
The building had been occupied and used as a manufacturing and repair facility. It created noise and caused other types of pollution. It loomed over the residential properties surrounding the building and had an unsightly façade.
In spite of numerous complaints to the Municipality by the residents and myself, nothing was done. In fact, the Municipality continued supplying water and electricity. The Municipality may not supply services to buildings that do not have approved building plans and occupation certificates.
The City Planning Department (Mr Martin van Niekerk, 012-358-4570, 082-494-7986) was fully aware of the problem and made numerous promises to take action. This type of business and/or building is not provided for in the town planning scheme, the development framework for the area or the Integrated Development Plan.
Due to inefficiencies, procrastinations and dereliction of duty, this problem was allowed to perpetuate. I discussed the particular problem of this property with the Mayor during a meeting with her in February 2007.
Not only was this building a problem to the residents of the area, but also posed a danger to the workers in the building, as we have now seen.
I am grateful that there were no serious casualties during the fire.
Now that the building has largely been destroyed, I hope the Municipality will make sure that the ruins are finally demolished and the illegal activities are stopped on the property.
This was certainly poetic justice.
PETER MILLAR
COUNCILLOR, WARD 41
TSHWANE METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITY
012-342-0527
082-574-4103
petermillar@polka.co.za
A factory building was erected on this property more than two years ago. It is a residential area. The property is zoned for residential use and has never been rezoned. No plans for the building were ever submitted to or approved by the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality. No occupation certificate was ever issued.
The building had been occupied and used as a manufacturing and repair facility. It created noise and caused other types of pollution. It loomed over the residential properties surrounding the building and had an unsightly façade.
In spite of numerous complaints to the Municipality by the residents and myself, nothing was done. In fact, the Municipality continued supplying water and electricity. The Municipality may not supply services to buildings that do not have approved building plans and occupation certificates.
The City Planning Department (Mr Martin van Niekerk, 012-358-4570, 082-494-7986) was fully aware of the problem and made numerous promises to take action. This type of business and/or building is not provided for in the town planning scheme, the development framework for the area or the Integrated Development Plan.
Due to inefficiencies, procrastinations and dereliction of duty, this problem was allowed to perpetuate. I discussed the particular problem of this property with the Mayor during a meeting with her in February 2007.
Not only was this building a problem to the residents of the area, but also posed a danger to the workers in the building, as we have now seen.
I am grateful that there were no serious casualties during the fire.
Now that the building has largely been destroyed, I hope the Municipality will make sure that the ruins are finally demolished and the illegal activities are stopped on the property.
This was certainly poetic justice.
PETER MILLAR
COUNCILLOR, WARD 41
TSHWANE METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITY
012-342-0527
082-574-4103
petermillar@polka.co.za
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