Boundary wall regulations flawed

Boundary wall regulations flawed

Boundary wall regulations don’t necessarily bridge the gap, leaving neighbours to battle it out from behind their fortifications.

This is the case between Melville residents Ebrahim Sheik and Rory Judd.

Sheik and Judd have been silent neighbours for ten years until a recent building project sparked terse altercations between the two.

Judd’s building project seems to have inconvenienced Sheik and his housemate and property owner Leopald Kreuz when the construction affected the boundary wall they had erected.

“The wall is built very high and they destroyed a part of our wall in the process of building,” said Sheik.

“Now I want to know what the law is in Melville because everyone is telling us different things and people are breaking the laws,” he added.

Sheik also said they weren’t consulted before the building commenced but were only notified later by Judd that he is building a garage.

Judd, however, maintains that he notified Kreuz and that their approval was not required by the City of Johannesburg.

“The City of Johannesburg people said if I needed any permission from the neighbour, they would let me know. I didn’t need permission in this case,” Judd responded.

There has been some confusion as to whether Judd’s building plan was approved by the building inspector and if he followed the stipulated building regulations.

According to Ward 87 councillor Amanda Forsythe, Judd’s plans were not approved, mainly due to the position of the wall.

“As far as I know, the building plan was not approved which would make it totally illegal to continue building. There are very strict regulations of how close to the boundary wall one is allowed to build and in this case it is too close,” Forsythe argued.

Building inspector Jan Van Eerden disagreed.

“The building plan was approved and it is permissible to build anywhere near the boundary wall as long as the structure doesn’t have windows,” Van Eerden countered.

The story has a happy ending, however. Judd sent a letter of apology and compromise to Kreuz and Sheik, offering to make it right with them.

Details: Amanda Forsythe 083-227-1797.