SASOLBURG – The headache of illegal and unregulated student accommodation facilities has sparked some serious concerns with the DA.

According to the opposition party, the crisis signals a ticking time bomb for both students and residents.

Phemelo Tabile, the DA Councillor at Metsimaholo Local Municipality, claims an urgent intervention is needed for the crisis involving unsafe and unlawful student housing linked to Flavius Mareka TVET College students.

In a statement, Tabile revealed that he had previously written to the municipal manager to raise concerns over the increasing number of illegal accommodation facilities operating across the municipality, especially in Sasolburg.

According to him, responses tabled during the latest Ordinary Council Sitting exposed deep problems involving non-compliance, safety risks, zoning violations, and weak monitoring systems.

“The responses clearly indicate a serious and ongoing challenge involving illegal accommodation, compliance failures, safety concerns, zoning irregularities, and inadequate monitoring mechanisms,” said Tabile.

He warned that the issue goes beyond student housing and is beginning to affect entire communities.

The DA says overcrowding, poor sanitation, fire hazards, and mounting pressure on municipal infrastructure are among the major problems being experienced in affected neighbourhoods.

“The municipality cannot address this matter alone, and stronger co-operation with Flavius Mareka TVET College is necessary to ensure that students are placed in safe, legal, and compliant accommodation facilities,” he added.

Tabile also tabled a list of demands aimed at tackling the crisis, including: – Improved collaboration between the municipality and Flavius Mareka TVET College;

– A full audit of all student accommodation facilities operating within Metsimaholo

– Strict enforcement of municipal by-laws and zoning regulations

– Regular inspections to ensure compliance with health and safety standards

– Long-term plans to address the increasing demand for student accommodation.s

In a response to media inquiries sent to Metsimaholo, the spokesperson, Dr. Gino Alberts, said to date, the municipality has identified approximately 38 student accommodation facilities within Sasolburg that are either operating illegally or are non-compliant with applicable municipal regulations and land-use requirements.

“Several of these cases were brought to the municipality’s attention through reports and complaints lodged by concerned community members. The identified facilities vary in the nature and severity of non-compliance, including unlawful rezoning practices, overcrowding, fire and safety risks, inadequate sanitation infrastructure, and unauthorised building alterations,” he said.

Alberts said the municipality views the matter in a very serious light and has intensified monitoring efforts to ensure that all accommodation establishments operate within the framework of the law.

“The Municipality has initiated coordinated multidisciplinary operations involving Building Control, Public Safety, Environmental Health, Town Planning, and Law Enforcement divisions to strengthen compliance monitoring and bylaw enforcement across affected areas.

The municipality is equally committed to balancing enforcement with education and awareness by engaging property owners on the importance of compliance and the potential consequences of unlawful operations.”