A Newlands resident, Marlin Naidoo, says tremors from piling at a nearby building site have damaged his property
The City has approved the development of two blocks of flats on the corner of Boundary and Kelvin roads, Newlands.
A piling rig started driving piles into the ground to strengthen foundations at the site, at the end of June.
“When the piling started, there is a violent tremor that runs through the ground and eventually causing my house to shudder – the walls, windows doors,” said Mr Naidoo, who has lived in Ednam Road for 13 years.
Mr Naidoo’s home is about 400 metres from the building site, and he claims the piling has caused cracks in the walls of his home.
“My house has sustained damage in the form of cracks on the external and internal walls. This is not considering the unseen damage that the constant tremors that vibrate the foundations.”
He has complained to ward councillor Mikhail Manuel, the City of Cape Town, a building inspector and the developer, Mark Saacks Projects.
Mr Manuel said Mr Naidoo needed to lodge a formal complaint.
“Damage to neighbouring property due to construction work must be addressed by the party undertaking the construction work,” he said.
He added that the developers had all the necessary approvals and he, as the ward councillor, could not stop the work.
Mayoral committee member for spatial planning and environment Eddie Andrews said: “This is a private matter that should be resolved between the two parties. A City building inspector met with the resident and informed him of this.”
John Williamson, who stays in White Road, Newlands, about a kilometre from the building site, said he could feel the vibrations from the piling. “The City encourages densification and new developments to take place in the middle of quiet neighbourhoods, which causes an impact on the environment,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the developers, Mia Gibson, from The Star Trust, said a four-storey block of flats, with a level of parking, was being built at 4 Boundary Road and a seven-storey block of flats, with two levels of parking, was being built at 7 Boundary Road.
Ms Gibson said the developers had used experienced professionals to examine the surrounding properties before starting any demolition or construction work.
“In addition, the neighbours were fully informed in regard to the developments, and meetings were also held with the immediate neighbours.”
Ms Gibson said the piling work had been completed and the contractor had left the site. “As responsible developers, they would be willing to investigate any alleged damage,” she said.
