Demolition on mansion stopped

WORKERS yesterday stopped demolishing a controversial R8.1-million Kenton-on-Sea mansion after it emerged the Ndlambe Municipality had not yet approved its demolition.

Owner Matthew Lester yesterday said he was absolutely stunned to hear that he was illegally breaking down the house despite being given a six-month Supreme Court of Appeal order late last year to demolish it by June 6 this year.

PAINSTAKING PROCESS: Household furniture and other items have been packed away for moving from Matthew Lesters Kenton-on-Sea house in preparation for the court ordered demolition Picture: DAVID MACGREGOR

The Rhodes University tax expert, who is also a popular columnist and financial whiz, was reacting to comments to the Daily Dispatch by Ndlambe Municipalitys attorney Brin Brody.

Brody, of Wheeldon, Rushmere & Cole Attorneys in Grahamstown, said that any demolition taking place was without the approval of the municipality.

The [Ndlambe municipal] council is currently considering his architects motivation of how the proposed demolition will take place. Until approval is given he cannot demolish anything.

Lester yesterday said he had decided to stop the demolition although one-and-a-half months of the SCA six-month deadline had already passed.

I am absolutely stunned. Brin Brody was informed by my architect Francois Theron two weeks ago about the demolition and he is deliberately making it [the demolition] as nasty as he can.

Senior communications officer at Ndlambe, Cecil Mbolekwa, said: The meeting that was to consider the demolishing plan was to be held on 30 January 2014 but did not take place. The planned meeting is now scheduled to take place on February 27.

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Demolition on mansion stopped