Keetmans Council fails to curb illegal construction

SOME business people at Keetmanshoop have been building commercial and residential buildings without council approval.

The Namibian’s investigation into this practice has established that at least two business people have constructed business and residential buildings without their building plans having been approved by the town council.The council has been blamed for delaying the approval of building plans.Sources said the Keetmanshoop Town Council has failed to stop the construction of unapproved buildings.One source blamed ‘inconsistent policy implementation’ by the council and interference by political office bearers when council officials want to take action against offenders.The Namibian has established that the Stumpfe Tyre building owned by Erich Stumpfe was completed before the council had approved its building plans, while property developer George Pieters is building flats in the town’s Tseiblaagte residential area without council approval. The council’s chief executive officer, Paul Vleermuis, said the council is taking action against the developers.’Notices were given to stop the illegal construction, but they were ignored. We’ll definitely issue a penalty fine of N$2 000 to the culprits,’ said Vleermuis. Asked what kind of pentalties the developers would face, Vleermuis said: ‘The council has the right to come up with more stringent measures such as demolishing the illegally constructed buildings.’When approached for comment, Stumpfe said he got permission from a municipal building inspector, Nimrod Swartz, before starting construction.’I submitted the building plans for approval. After two months passed, there was still no response from the council whether or not the plans were approved. I then enquired with the building inspector [Swartz], and he gave me the permission to start with the construction,’ said Stumpfe.Pieters could not be reached for comment. Former mayor Basil Brown complained that he had been struggling since last year to get building plans approved by the council. According to Brown, he plans to put up an office, retail and residential complex at a cost of N$2,5 million.Claiming that only certain people’s building plans are approved without delay, Brown angrily remarked: ‘Three times they [town council] returned the plans, pointing out errors. I have corrected the errors, now they again want me to apply for approval to build on the boundaries.’ Responding to Brown’s complaints, Vleermuis said the council is dealing with his application. ‘We are only waiting for his letter seeking approval to build on the boundaries. The application will then be tabled for council approval,’ said Vleermuis. luqman@namibian.com.na