I am a single mother living with my 16-year-old daughter at Voortrekkerpark Holiday Resort in Strand.
While my mother owns our house, it sits on municipal grounds.
Recently, our porch shade sails were damaged during strong winds, leaving our entire porch completely exposed.
As someone who suffers from chronic bronchitis, the constant wind exposure seriously affects my health. For both safety and health reasons, I was fortunate to receive a donation to replace the damaged sails with proper glass doors.
However, when the installation team arrived to begin work, they were stopped by the resort’s committee chairperson, who claimed they couldn’t proceed without his permission.
I was never informed that such permission was required for what I consider essential home protection.
I struggle to understand why I need anyone’s permission to protect my family’s health and safety – surely this is a basic human right?
My chronic bronchitis is significantly worsened by wind exposure, yet I’m being prevented from installing proper protection.
Meanwhile, our furniture is deteriorating under constant sun exposure, and we’re essentially trapped indoors, unable to use our porch.
Why should a single mother be denied the right to protect her home and health?
I am writing this email with a heavy heart and in the hope that someone can assist me with regard to my human right to feel safe in my own house.
Lario le Roux,
The City of Cape Town’s Economic Growth Directorate responds: Voortrekker Park is a resort developed on land zoned as Open Space Zone II.
The area in question comprises approximately 105 residential units, mainly lean-to or wooden structures, which are managed by the City’s Property Transactions Department.
Although temporary and informal measures, such as canvas panels on open stoeps, were previously used and did not require approved plans, the installation of permanent glass doors and windows has resulted in the creation of additional habitable space and an increase in floor area.
This constitutes an intensification of use and requires approved building plans.
In this instance, no such plans were submitted or approvals sought.
