South African family history, genealogy, heritage and interesting places, past and present. All articles researched and written by Anne Lehmkuhl. COPYRIGHT ANNE LEHMKUHL, no article can be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission. EMAIL ME
Heritage demolishers face heavier fines
The Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court recently fined architect and developer Justus van der Hoven R300 000 after he demolished a listed 1930s heritage building. He also received a five-year suspended sentence. The South African Heritage Resources Agency (Sahra) said that this was the first time that a jail sentence had been imposed for this type of crime and R300 000 is the heaviest fine imposed to date. Dudley Court in Parktown North was built in 1936. The abandoned building was demolished in 2001 by its owner, Justus van der Hoven, to make way for an office park and residential area. Sahra laid a charge against him for demolishing the building they had listed in 1998. Heritage buildings, usually those that are 60 years and older, are classified by Sahra in accordance with the National Heritage Resources Act. Van der Hoven is a director of ARC Architects, the same company that was involved in converting the 68-year old Rosebank Fire Station into offices and in the restoration of another heritage building, Villa Arcadia, in Parktown. Developers who were denied demolition permits often cheated by neglecting the property, allowing them to be vandalised or fall into disrepair. They do this so that their re-application in another year or two would be approved if the building is ruined beyond repair.