More building plan ‘irregularities’ surface

ANONYMOUS writes:

In Kempton Express of August 13 a woman wrote about the difficulty she had because she could not get any building plans from the municipality and could not sell her property because of this.

Recently I went to the municipality for plans of two properties we own. We are planning some extensions on these properties.

Also read:

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• Crooked building plan employee caught in trap

Both properties are on my husband’s name and he gave me a letter with both his and my ID numbers and contact details, as well as to inform the plans department that he authorised me to collect a copy of both properties’ plans.

Firstly, the lift at the municipal offices is not in operation and hasn’t been for some time. On the fifth floor, where the plans are stored, there is a guy servicing this counter. He did not look at the letter of authorisation that I am to collect the plans. I gave him both erf numbers and he went to the back and brought back the original plans for both properties.

He gave them to me and told me the copier was out of order (has been for a few years I believe) and that I must take these original plans to a place on Monument Road where copies would be made. I had to leave the original plans with this company as the council would collect it. I do not know who takes responsibility for this.

In past years we had building alterations done and each time paid all the costs and made sure that we do things legally. From what I read it seems that the owner of a property is responsible for the plans. Why must we get approval from the council if they do not even keep a copy?

On arrival at the place that made copies of our plans there was a big box stored underneath the counter with many original plans. I cannot think that this is the correct way to go. Surely the municipality must have originals of the plans.

I also think that with a big metro like Ekurhuleni the basic things like the lift should be in operation. I also think that with a big metro like Ekurhuleni there must be a machine to make copies at the offices.

I found the offices dirty and the security staff unhelpful. The doors to the security desk are not working on the one side and windows are extremely dirty

We have got such a nice building to house the offices but it looks to me that it is not kept clean and also maintenance is far behind.

Express waited several weeks for comment from the metro but received none – Editor