The City of Ekurhuleni has identified about 10 000 households whose owners have built unapproved structures that are encroaching on municipal sewer and water servitude lines.
This encroachment on the water infrastructure has resulted in technicians being unable to resolve many sewer blockages and has disrupted technicians’ maintenance schedules due to a lack of access to the encroached areas, said metro spokesman Themba Gadebe.
Servitude encroachment happens when a building extends beyond the building line within a stand, and in most cases extending onto neighbouring public land, or the building line of a road.
The most prevalent encroachments that have been identified are in informal settlements, backrooms and perimeter walls.
“It has come to our attention that many customers build without council-approved building plans. which impedes the water network and poses a risk of possible injury or loss of lives when the pipes burst,” MMC for water, sanitation and energy Tiisetso Nketle said.
Nketle cautioned the community against illegally connecting to the water network to access drinking water as this is an illegal act and the risk of the water pipe bursting poses a danger.
Those wishing to renovate their homes by extending or building outside rooms are strongly encouraged to get their building plans approved by the city. This is to avoid the regrettable situation of being ordered to demolish the structures that obstruct municipal infrastructure.
If you suspect anyone of violating by-laws and building on servitudes, report the matter to the city’s call centre on 086 054 3000 or via twitter @COE_CALL_CENTRE.
