Monday, September 09, 2024

City of Cape Town calls on residents to report unlawfully occupied buildings

The City of Cape Town is urging its residents to report buildings that are illegally occupied. The municipality acknowledged that while progress has been made in tackling this issue, it remains a challenging endeavour.

Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Dean McPherson informed Parliament last week that more than 338 buildings have been hijacked across the country.

The city emphasized that it follows its by-laws when addressing suspected illegal occupations before taking legal action against the owners or occupants.

Picture: Pixabay

MMC for safety and security, JP Smith, noted that the rise in unlawful property occupation is a global issue, made worse by complex regulations that fail to safeguard property owners.

Smith stated that this situation creates problems for the city, as such properties often become shelters for squatters and criminals, deteriorating significantly and negatively affecting nearby residents.

He added that these buildings can pose serious risks, becoming dumping grounds and potential hazards for health and fire.

 

Done by: Stephanie Van Rayen

 

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