The owner of a construction site has been charged for violating eThekwini Municipal by-laws and national building regulations. This comes after the Metro Police responded to a complaint regarding an alleged illegal construction taking place at the Smart Exchange Building in Durban Central on Saturday May 18.
The owner, who was charged on Monday May 20, was found to have failed to comply with a notice to cease construction and vacate the site until building plans were approved, said Metro Police spokesperson Colonel Boysie Zungu.
“When officers arrived on the construction site, the owner admitted to employing undocumented workers, contravening building regulations, and continuing with work after being instructed to cease all work until building plans were approved,” said Colonel Zungu.
“Further investigations revealed that of the 30 workers on site, 19 were in the country illegally. The owner was charged with contravening the city’s by-laws and national building regulations as well as failure to comply with a notice to cease with construction and vacate the site.”
He also contravened the Immigration Act by employing undocumented foreign nationals as well as having no qualified person on site for construction work. The 19 suspects were detained as illegal immigrants, Colonel Zungu added.
