Building woes in Denneburg
2011-02-03
A LOCAL couple are up in arms over the illegal structure being constructed against their boundary and are seeking legal advice. Early in November, the Oczenaschek’s of Panorama Street in Denneburg were ca- sually informed by a neighbour, Waghied Hendriks, that their washing was ‘going to get dusty’ due to building work which he intended to do. He informed them that he planned to demolish the vibracrete wall between the two properties to erect a higher wall. “We did not deem it necessary to replace the wall, as it is in perfect condition,” says Oczenaschek. “We were also concerned about security risks while the wall was down, as well as the safety of our dog.” The Oczenascheks launched a formal complaint with the Drakenstein Municipality and it was found that Hendriks had only submitted his building plans to them on 3 November. “We asked the municipality for the plans, as Hendricks did not show them to us.” Only after repeated requests did they receive the plan, and were astounded to see that Hendricks was actually going to build a very large extension to his house, right up against their boundary wall. “It is a double-storey extension with a balcony and looks directly over our garden and house. This will definitely be an invasion of our privacy.” By then the building was already up to roof height and extended over the 3,15m building line between the properties. But the Oczenascheks’ woes did not end there. Once they had lodged their objection against Hendriks’s illegal activities, they were cautioned by Drakenstein Municipality planning official, James September, that they should reconsider their decision to have Hendriks’s building stopped, as there are discrepancies with building work which had been done on their property. “According to him, there are no approved plans for our garage and pergola.” This was built during the 1980’s by the first owner, who assured them that the plans were in order. “When we asked September to see the plans for our house and garage, we were told that they had been destroyed in a fire. “But when we moved into our house in 2003 we approached September for advice on erecting a wall in the front garden, and he called up the plans on his computer. “Instead of looking seriously into the matter of Hendriks, we are now being made out to be the culprits.” Municipal spokesperson, May Carolissen, said that no building work on Hendriks’s property may proceeded until the outcome of an application for the relaxation of the building line.
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