EXCLUSIVE: Municipality clamps down on BHP communal homes
During serving of legal notices, it was discovered that one home in Tommy Boydell Avenue was housing 37 people.
Communal homes operating in Barry Hertzog Park are facing possible legal action from Newcastle Municipality.
The Town Planning Department issued legal notices to 10 communal homes operating in Tommy Boydell Avenue and FW Beyers Avenue this morning, January 25.
The notice stipulated the owners of the communal homes had seven days to comply with municipal regulations.
“The communal houses are not deemed legal, as the owners need to go through the municipality to get approval to turn the houses into boarding homes. This has not been done,” claimed a source from the department.
Students in the homes were shocked when members of Protection Services and police accompanied the Town Planning Department to issue the notices.
“We are going to land up homeless!” one exclaimed.
While serving the notices, it was discovered one home in Tommy Boydell Avenue was housing 37 people.
This was deemed as unacceptable by authorities, as it posed a health and safety hazard.
Further investigations will be done into the running of the communal homes.
Also read:
94 Communal homes identified in Barry Hertzog Park
Barry Hertzog Park residents reach breaking point
Communal homes cause controversy
Powerhouses to take legal action in Barry Hertzog Park debacle
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