Nomaza Gexa of Mbekweni is R12 000 out of pocket after paying an alleged fraudulent architect, Junaid Adams, for a building plan in 2021, never to hear from him again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today she has been left in a pickle since Adams mastered a disappearing act leaving Gexa with an unapproved house plan and no access to electricity since 2021. This is because Gexa could not get final approval for her house-plan at the Drakenstein Municipality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn 2021 I had a house plan drawn up and submitted it to the Drakenstein Municipality, but because I deviated from the plan handed in at the municipality, they did not provide me with electricity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Gexa, for her to have access to electricity she had to resubmit a house plan which incorporated the structural changes she made, but because Adams left with her money and without an adjusted plan, electricity to her house was denied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since Gexa could not afford another architect for assistance, she turned to the municipality for help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In August 2023 she paid a visit to the municipality who explained she had to pay R12 000 for an electrical cable, but since this transaction access to electricity was still a problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Louis Pienaar, executive director of engineering services at Drakenstein Municipality, a \u201cclient must secure approval for building plans before proceeding with a new connection to the municipality\u2019s [electricity] supply network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRegrettably, the payment [of R12 000] for the new connection was made before we received the indication that her notice of approval of building plan was not in place,\u201d he explained. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe said fee can, however, either be reimbursed or retained until the required building-plan approvals are secured. Once the municipality has received the required occupational and compliance certificates, we will facilitate the connection to the municipal supply.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
WO Nceba Vanqa, spokesperson for the Mbekweni Police Station, confirmed that Gexa opened a case against Adams and that a fraud case is being investigated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA suspect has not been arrested yet, [as] he is still on the run,\u201d he said in email communication to Paarl Post<\/em><\/span>. \u201cBoth the complainant and the investigating officer are trying to get hold of him, but [his whereabouts are] not traceable at the moment.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Gexa was aware of two other people in Mbekweni who had used Adams\u2019 services and lost a large sum of money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This story serves as a cautionary one, being careful of whom one goes into business with and especially the alleged architect who was last seen in Paarl-East.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Paarl Pos<\/em><\/span>t<\/em> was contacted by Adams after the initial article was published who claims he is innocent.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Nomaza Gexa of Mbekweni is R12 000 out of pocket after paying an alleged architect, Junaid Adams, for a building plan in 2021, never to hear from him 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