The Johannesburg City Council held a meeting with the city’s building inspectors on March 3 to find a way to tackle building non-compliance.

The need for laws to be enforced in terms of building compliance came after a building in Ormonde collapsed, resulting in nine people dying due to the building collapse.

The building was found to have no approved plans with the city.

On-site inspections in Joburg are ongoing to identify unlawful developments and enforce adherence to building regulations.

Following the meeting, the MMC for Development Planning, Councillor Eunice Mgcina, led oversight inspections alongside officials from the Development Planning Department’s Building Control Management Unit.

The owners of the building, who are yet to be found, will face punitive measures once they are located, according to the MMC.

Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson has called on members of the public to assist authorities in locating the owners.

Macpherson also urged the building’s developer to come forward and take accountability for the tragedy.

Property owners found to be non-compliant with the City’s by-laws and building regulations will receive notices to comply, and will face punitive measures if they fail to do so.

The move is part of efforts to address ongoing non-compliance and illegal developments across Johannesburg.

Employment and Labour Deputy Minister Jomo Sibiya confirmed that the Department of Employment and Labour will institute a formal investigation to determine the cause of the collapse and to establish whether there were violations of occupational health and safety legislation.

The public is urged to come forward with any information about the owners of the building in Ormonde; to give information, call 0860 562 874.

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