Cape school fined for 113-year unlawful operation
A Cape Town public school has been fined for operating unlawfully for 113 years. However, Oakhurst Girls Primary, in Rondebosch, will have no difficulty paying the penalty imposed by a City of Cape Town Planning Tribunal, as it has been set at R0.
The Herald reports more schools and public buildings are likely to face a similar fine as officials begin to enforce the 2015 municipal planning bylaw, which removed an exemption for state properties.
The crackdown is set to unleash a blizzard of red tape and paperwork across Cape Town, not to mention a pile of bills for government departments.
Even though its fine was zero, the Western Cape Education Department has paid the city council R17 150 to apply for rezoning of the 1.25ha property.
It has also engaged a consultant to manage its rezoning and planning applications, which aim to consolidate seven erven, rezone them for community use and regularise matters such as a building line contravention relating to the school swimming pool.
Article disclaimer: While we have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this article, it is not intended to provide final legal advice as facts and situations will differ from case to case, and therefore specific legal advice should be sought with a lawyer.
