A director of the Makhado Municipality was instructed in a letter by the Municipal Manager to finalise outstanding matters in the building of the house which the director had already taken occupation of.

The house in question is a double-storey home situated at the corner of Aalwyn and Eland Street. The house belongs to Mr Masindi Mapholi, director of technical services. According to the municipal spokesperson, Mr Peter Magwala, Mr Mapholi occupied the house on May 1 and the letter of instruction was dated May 4.

Mr Magwala said on May 8 that the letter by the municipal manager is a proof that nobody is above the law and that "whatever managers and directors do, must be within the framework of the law and bylaws".

Concern from the community was that the official whose task it is to see that regulations concerning occupation certificates and electrical certificates are enforced, may not be adhering to these regulations himself. According to information, the house was not completed when occupation took place. The safety factor inside an uncompleted building was mentioned as well as the fact that a person could be allowed to stay in an unfinished house.

The municipal spokesperson said that when Mr Mapholi’s house was constructed, the required inspection was done by municipal inspectors and that Mr Mapholi had formally submitted an application that his house be inspected.

"In terms of legislation, he applied to the local building control officer for the Conditional Occupation Certificate (COC). Mr Mapholi has the COC from the person who electrified the house. The electrical department inspector switched on the electricity and Mapholi received the statement and paid the electricity," Magwala said.

The reason why Mr Mapholi moved into an uncompleted house was that the house was being robbed.

"The regulations say that you should move into a house which is complete, but the very same law says that if you apply for a conditional certificate and it is granted you can stay in the meantime," Magwala said.

Concerning the safety factor, the spokesperson said that the director was only using the bottom storey of the two storeys. He confirmed that some things need to be rectified in the house, mainly on the top storey.