News24.com | Joburg church construction 'extremely dangerous'

Johannesburg - Construction at a church building in Lyndhurst, Johannesburg, was a disaster waiting to happen, The Star newspaper reported on Monday.

A second storey was being added to the Alleluia Ministries church without building plans or approval from the City of Johannesburg, according to the newspaper.

Two warnings to stop construction have been ignored.

The church was operating illegally as the property it was situated on was not zoned as a place of worship, while the city's town-planning amendments scheme stated the property was not safe to build on.

'Extremely dangerous'

Architect Marian Laseron, who has taken up the cause of neighbours who have been trying since 2009 to stop church activities, said the foundations of the building were water logged.

"It is a disaster waiting to happen. Hundreds of people attend that church every week. It is extremely dangerous," she said.

Laseron said the city's amendment scheme specifically said Johannesburg Road could not provide access to the property, which it did.

The church had also closed off Astra Road, a public street, stating it had permission from the Johannesburg Roads Agency.

The newspaper reported that pastor Alph Lukau did not respond to their request for comment.

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News24.com | Joburg church construction 'extremely dangerous'