A property developer in Cape Town must pay R1 million in penalty costs after constructing an unauthorised apartment block in Bellville.On Monday, the City of Cape Town announced that Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis upheld the municipal planning tribunal’s decision to impose the hefty penalty. The developer not only ignored orders to halt construction but also began renting out the 22-unit building.
Hill-Lewis stated, ‘ Cape Town we are working to build a society based on the rule of law, and that the flagrant disregard of building and planning regulations cannot be tolerated. The law is not only for some, it is for all.’ The city noted that occupying the building without necessary safety and building plan approvals, land use rights and occupation certification poses a safety risk to tenants. ‘Following a letter of demand by the City’s lawyers in December 2022, the developer agreed to ensure the vacating of all tenants, but by March 2023 it was clear there was no serious intention in this regard,’ the statement said.