MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The construction work on a development in Bland Street, Mossel Bay, has been temporarily halted after the Mossel Bay Municipality identified what it described as a potentially unsafe situation at the site.
The municipality confirmed that it had approved all the necessary development and building plan applications for the project, supported by the required specialist reports, and that the owner had been authorised to proceed with construction.
However, a potentially unsafe situation was later identified, prompting the municipality to issue a notice instructing the owner to immediately stop all construction work.
"The necessary buildings control inspections are taking place, attending to all matters, including safety."
A homeowner adjacent to the Taleah Developments construction site, Chris Grové, said his house is a heritage building and that the excavation work appeared to have come too close to his property.
Grové told Mossel Bay Advertiser that he had also informed the Heritage Association of South Africa about the incident.
“The developers will have to stabilise the area adjacent to my property,” he said.
On Tuesday 4 August, Grové said retaining blocks have been offloaded at the site.
According to the municipality, the owner is now required to appoint a qualified engineer to compile a report and submit it to the municipality.
The owner must also urgently address the potential safety concern and implement the engineer’s recommendations before construction may resume. “The municipality is monitoring the situation accordingly,” it said.
The Advertiser contacted representatives of Taleah Developments for comment. They declined.
It is not yet clear how long construction will remain suspended while the municipality awaits the engineer’s report.
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