PINETOWN residents are up in arms over what they believe is the illegal conversion of a three bedroom home into a hostel that may house 32 students.
According to Danie Maritz, the house was purchased in late December last year and construction and alterations began a few days later.
“I went to the house and spoke to who I believe to be the home owner’s (Mrs Nene) brother. He was the one who told me they were converting the house and would be charging 32 students R1500 per month to stay there,” said Maritz.
They were unable to show him the plans to alter the home. He then contacted the chief building inspector, Victor Sada, who in turn said he had not received nor passed any plans for the house.
“From what I can tell they have enclosed the patio, which used to be a bar, on the bottom level, have enclosed the verandah on the second storey and started to build walls around what used to be a courtyard,” said Maritz.
He said that a court interdict – demanding the construction cease – arrived a few days later, but the construction continued. “The bylaws state that a home in a residential area is allowed a maximum of two people per room. There is no way she could possibly fit 32 people into that house, it is simply not viable. There is certainly no place for that amount of students to park on her property.”
“I have no problem with her altering her house. I just want things to be done legally. If she wants to turn her house into a hostel then she must abide by the bylaws,” concluded Maritz.
Home owner responds
THE home owner, Lingi Mngonezune and not Mrs Nene, contacted the Highway Mail to give her side of the story.
“I purchased the house last year and received the keys to my new home in the first week of January. Before I officially moved in I wanted to do renovations and alterations, from painting the walls to retiling and cleaning up the house.”
“I have never altered a home before so I had no idea of the procedure that is involved. My neighbours could have easily have approached me, asked what was going on and informed me of the correct procedure that I needed to take. I am just tired of this nonsense,” said Mngonezune.
She said that as a single mother she would want people to stay in her home and is currently considering providing a living space for students.
“There is a need for a place for people to stay. As much as we have increased access to education via the enrolment side, we have not increased the infrastructure to house the students. At this stage I have not decided which institution the students will come from, but I will be living with these people and sharing my home, so there will definitely be a screening process,” said Mngonezune.
According to her, it is a four bedroom house. She has only converted the bar into what she intends to be used as a bedroom. “I haven’t even decided how many people are going to be moving in or how much I will charge them,” concluded Mngonezune.
She has since submitted plans to the municipality for the alterations to her house and has also applied for special consent to allow for boarding.
