Parklands couple fear ‘ugly’ 6m wall could fall

A PARKLANDS couple are up in arms about a two-storeyhigh wall they say their neighbour illegally erected against their boundary.

Jens Broders and Sabine Woelbing-Broders have lodged an appeal with the City about the wall, which they say is unsightly and poses a danger because it is built on unstable ground.

But their neighbour, Ashraf Fataar, denies accusations that the wall is unsafe and said City inspectors had visited the property.

The wall was built after a fire caused extensive damage to Fataar’s garage and to a room on top of it, and R30 000 worth of damage to the Broder’s property in September 2013.

The garage was built against the boundary. Following the fire, Fataar rebuilt his garage and the room.

They say the wall is unsafe because the ground was not stabilised after the fire.

In December 2013, the couple lodged a complaint with the Milnerton sub council, but after not getting a response they approached mayor Patricia de Lille’s office in June last year.

“From De Lille’s secretary, Nicette Jorrissen, we were informed via e-mail that our papers were ‘lost’ at the municipality,” Woelbing-Broders said.

In March this year they met ward councillor Heather Brenner.

“We had three minutes to state our case. Brenner told my husband and me that they would come and have a look at the 6m wall on our property.

“After three weeks we e-mailed Brenner to remind her we were still waiting,” Woelbing-Broders said.

The couple then received an e-mail from Brenner telling them that a building restriction had been removed and that a building with two floors against the boundary had been permitted.

Brenner referred questions to De Lille’s spokeswoman, Pierrinne Leukes.

Leukes said the City was aware of the issue and that an appeal process is under way.