City to decide on Gupta home alterations

The City of Johannesburg was deciding whether a Gupta family home in Saxonwold needed alterations, a spokesman said on Saturday.

This comes after the Saturday Star reported the home could be demolished for violating the city's building regulations.

Neighbours of the wealthy Gupta family told the newspaper the home violated height restrictions, the number of dwelling units per site and contravened the Architects Act.

City spokesman Nthatisi Modingoane told Sapa in an email the building could be altered pending the outcome of a town planning meeting. He said the building control department had granted permission for the house to be occupied on this understanding.

The family's building plans were submitted in May 2009 for a new house and it was approved in June that year.

More plans were submitted for internal upgrades in March 2010 which were approved the following month.

"A third plan was submitted due to deviations undertaken that did not comply with the previously approved plan," said Modingoane.

"The deviations entailed marginal increase in coverage created by roof overhangs and balconies...This plan is pending and awaiting the conclusion of the town planning process."

The meeting was scheduled for Wednesday.

Earlier on Saturday, Gupta family spokesman Gary Naidoo said he would respond to queries by email, but by 4pm there was no response.