Demolition halted to check permits
The municipality is currently checking if Amafa have given permission
A house was being demolished in Lyell Street this morning (Tuesday).
The owner of the house, Mr Moola, says he is fed up with the people living there because they don’t pay their rent. More than 15 people, including children, are living in the house. The house is evidently in a state of disrepair and the living conditions are terrible.
Mr Moola also says that criminal activity is rife in the area and that is the other reason he wants the house to be demolished.
The residents pleaded with the owner not to break down the house as they will have no shelter in the freezing cold.
The roof of the house was being taken off.
According to Mr Vincent Horn from the Ladysmith Historical Society, no building older than 60 years can be demolished without permission from Amafa (Amafa / Heritage KwaZulu-Natal is the provincial heritage conservation agency for the KwaZulu-Natal province). It is believed that the building is older than 60 years.
The municipality is currently checking if Amafa have given permission.
Contacting Amafa was just as confusing, as they seemed equally uncertain if they had given a permit to demolish the building or not…
At the time of publishing, demolition work has been halted by the owner while the permits are being checked.
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House being demolished in Lyell Street
