Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning
(1) Whether any building regulations were contravened regarding national infrastructure and the nearby construction of private housing where the pylon collapsed at Wingate, Sunningdale Drive, Velderama, Table View; if so, what are the relevant details;
(2) whether the housing estate developer complied with all the building regulations as stipulated by the City of Cape Town; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
(3) whether all building regulations were scrutinised and upheld by the City’s planning office when the building plans were submitted to the City of Cape Town; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
(4) whether there are uniform building regulations across the City of Cape Town regarding housing developments and Eskom’s infrastructure or do the requirements differ from one housing development to another; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
(1) No building regulations were contravened.
(2) Yes, the developer complied with all the regulations and the building was completed according to the approved plan. The completed building was signed off by the local authority at the time.
(3) Yes, all building regulations as well as all applicable legislation was considered and properly applied during the evaluation and approval (22 May 1998) of the building plan.
(4) Building regulations is National legislation and is uniform throughout South Africa.
According to Eskom, it is important to note that the approved servitude which the pylon was constructed in, met the regulatory requirements. The size of the servitude is determined by the voltage level of the equipment and not the height of the pylon.
