The City of Cape Town has issued ‘Permission to Use’ Certificates for the District Six development which is being undertaken by the National Government. This allows for the beneficiaries to return to District Six, and move into their houses, while the National Government has a year to rectify safety issues.

Since October last year the City has issued ‘Permission to Use’ Certificates for 58 units – flats and free standing houses – that form part of the District Six development.

These certificates were issued on the condition that the National Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development rectify the safety issues that the City’s building inspector has identified. This must be done within 12 months from the date of issuing of the ‘Permission to Use’ Certificate.

The City can only issue an Occupancy Certificate when all of the work complies with the approved building plans and the National Building Regulations (NBR):

Although the building plans have been approved by the City, some elements do not conform to the NBR, specifically those related to the stairways and staircases and balconies which could compromise public safety

This inadequacy on protection from falling, poses a danger to life, and therefore needs to be addressed in terms of the NBR

‘I went on a site visit to the District Six development where I met with the building inspector to see for myself the developer’s inconsistencies when compared with the actual site plan. The inspector explained to me why compliance is critical.

‘Small children or babies may fall under the balcony railing. Also, there are inconsistencies with the steps. This is very important because when there is a fire and the building must be evacuated the tenants must be able to do so safely, and without misjudging a step. This is to prevent someone from falling and hurting themselves, and causing a hazard for others evacuating the building,’ said Alderman Eddie Andrews, the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment.

Therefore, the City has issued ‘Permission to use’ Certificates on condition that all staircases and balconies be made safe within a year from the issuing date. All balustrades and handrails will also have to ‘assist the continuous and safe movements of the occupants of these buildings’.

‘We have issued these certificates because we want the people from District Six to return to their land. They have been waiting too long already for the houses that the National Government has built. The City will issue the legally required Occupancy Certificates once the National Government has addressed all of the building inspector’s safety concerns. I urge the National Government, who is the leading partner in the redevelopment of District Six, to please address these concerns as a matter of urgency,’ said Alderman Eddie Andrews.

It is for the National Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development to decide whether they will allow the beneficiaries of these units to move in, or, to wait until the safety concerns have been addressed.

The City will issue Occupancy Certificates when all of the work complies with the approved building plans and the National Building Regulations.

‘It is very important that the National Government addresses these concerns, because without an Occupancy Certificate the unit cannot be transferred into the beneficiary’s name. Up until this happens the unit remains the property of the National Government and restitution has not been fulfilled,’ said Alderman Andrews.

Source: City Of Cape Town