When your plans are approved by the council the process is not done!! The council has the following stamp they place on the plans
IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR LAWFUL COMPLETION:
The approval of a Building Plan("BP") is only for the
use as indicated on the BP, MUST be in accordance with
the National Building Regulations and Standards Act,
1977 ("NBR"), the Land Use Scheme in operation and
other legislation. Approval is only valid for 12 months
unless the building operations have commenced. No
buildings, additions or alterations may be occupied until
and unless an Occupation Certificate ("OC") has been
obtained by the owner in terms of section 14 of the NBR.
Arrangements for statutory inspections MUST be made
with the Region for consideration of an OC. This BP
process is only complete upon an OC having been
issues. Failing to obtain an OC will be subject to law
enforcement procedures and renders any occupation of
buildings, additions and alterations unlawful.
In the case of NON-Compliance, the plans expire and you need to restart the process from the beginning!!