Sunnyside property owners face legal action for illegal conversions

PROPERTY owners in Sunnyside, Arcadia and surrounding areas could face legal action if they do not comply with municipal building regulations after illegally converting two-bedroom units into five-bedroom spaces.

- RAPULA MOATSHE

City of Tshwane's Housing and Human Settlements MMC, Aaron Maluleka, warned that conversions were putting vulnerable residents like students and young workers in harm's way.

He described the buildings' compromised structural integrity as a ticking time bomb, posing risks of disasters like fires, collapses, or health hazards.

"When such tragedies occur, the burden inevitably falls on the local government to respond, despite these risks being entirely preventable," he said.

He condemned property owners for exploiting desperate tenants following a crackdown on illegal accommodation in Sunnyside led by the integrated by-laws enforcement committee, comprising the Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD), SAPS, traffic wardens, private security, and other officials.

The operation, Maluleka said, was aimed to tackle the surge in illegal, overcrowded private accommodations and unauthorised businesses.