Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo, [email protected]
TSHOLOTSHO Rural District Council has ordered property owners, developers, businesses and institutions with unauthorised buildings within the Tsholotsho Town Board Area to regularise their developments by Friday as it moves to enforce building regulations.
In a public notice issued on Tuesday, the council chief executive officer Mr Nkululeko Sibanda said it had noted with concern that a number of individuals and institutions were undertaking construction projects without approved building plans and mandatory inspections.
Mr Sibanda said the developments were in contravention of the Model Building By-laws and the Regional, Town and Country Planning Act (Chapter 29:12), which require all building projects to receive prior approval and undergo inspections at various stages of construction.
“We have observed that some individuals and institutions are carrying out construction works without approved building plans and without mandatory stage inspections by council. This is a violation of the law and we are directing all affected property owners to regularise their developments by reporting to the Council Building Inspectorate on or before Friday, 3 July 2026,” said Mr Sibanda.
He said the exercise was intended to ensure that all developments complied with planning and safety standards while giving affected property owners an opportunity to rectify their status before enforcement action is taken.
Mr Sibanda warned that failure to comply would leave the local authority with no option but to institute enforcement measures, including the imposition of penalties and surcharges provided for under the relevant legislation and the approved 2026 council budget.
He said council could also issue enforcement notices, recover attendant costs through legal proceedings where compliance was resisted and demolish illegal structures at the expense of property owners.
“We urge all affected persons to cooperate and take advantage of this opportunity to regularise their developments and avoid unnecessary penalties and legal action,” said Mr Sibanda.
