A Hanover Park couple is determined to widen its narrow driveway, but say the City of Cape Town is not being helpful.
Zuleiga and Suleiman Adams say they have been battling with the City of Cape Town for the past five years to extend the front of their yard to allow for a garage to be built.
Mr Adams is currently in the possession of a plan of the house which indicates an opening of 1.06 metres, but he wants to extend it to 2.3 metres.
However, this will extend over to the neighbouring property.
According to the City of Cape Town’s Mayco member for spatial planning and environment, Marian Nieuwoudt, Mr Adams submitted a building plan on October 14 2016 for dwelling extensions and also for a second dwelling on the property.
The application was, however, closed on August 23 2017 as the scrutiny fee was not paid, therefore, the building plans were not processed or approved by the City.
Mr Adams, who has been living in the area for more than 30 years, said he refused to pay the fee as the City “had not been helping him.”
“I am even willing to buy that piece of land as there is more than enough land but they won’t let me. I won’t leave it like this, I will consult my lawyers. Why must I park at my neighbours house? Everyone in the road has driveways but I don’t,” he said.
His wife Zuleiga, said she is frustrated with the small entrance they have.
“Why can they help everyone else but not us. We are not getting any assistance from them. You can’t even move furniture through that opening or have a janaazah here. If there is a fire the fire brigade won’t even be able to get through here and we have insurance and they will ask us why we didn’t fight for a bigger space,” she said.
“The council must assist us. I am frustrated at the moment and I just want the process to be done with,” she said.
Ms Nieuwoudt said the owner is welcome to discuss the matter with the City’s human settlements department which deals with council housing rental units to determine whether there is a way in which to widen his entrance.