A property in the Kimberley Central Business District (CBD) was declared unsafe for occupation and has been closed with immediate effect by the Sol Plaatje Municipality’s Emergency Services.
Not only was a section of the property engulfed by fire shortly after midnight – on Monday morning, 5 August – but the illegal electrical connections and unhealthy living conditions within the residential flats were also of grave concern.
Thabo Mothibi, communications manager at the municipality, said sections of the property at 8 to 12 Cheapside Street in the CBD, were used as a church, clothing store, muti shop and as an appliance repair store, and it was damaged by the fire early Monday morning.
Mothibi said upon inspection of the entire building block, members of the emergency services discovered that another section of the building was being used as residential flats in violation of its occupancy classification based on approved building plans.
On Monday, the unit has contacted the Bloemfontein-based owner of the building and a notice to close the building due to the fire damage and unsafe conditions was being served in accordance with the National Building Regulations and Standards Act and the Fire Brigade Act.
The latter legislation grants the chief fire officer the authority to close any building to protect its occupants and the property.
According to Mothibi the municipality’s emergency services, also known as the Fire Department, conducts regular inspections to root out non-compliance.
Members of the public are also encouraged to lodge concerns or complaints relating to unsafe buildings with the unit on 053-832-4212/3/4.
