2011-07-14: Strong action promised against “violation of town planning and building control regulations.”
Johannesburg will take stronger action against habitual violators of the town planning and building control regulations as well as the City of Johannesburg’s Outdoor Advertising by-laws.
Clr Ruby Mathang, the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Development Planning and Urban Management says these kinds of law infringements are major causes of crime and grime which manifest into the general urban decay of suburbs within the city.”
“We have to combat the perception that those responsible for unsanctioned activities which undermines the quality of the built environment which necessitates the regeneration of these areas, are untouchable,” he says.
The City will in the short to medium term intensify its efforts to clamp down on habitual infringers of the City’s land use, building control and outdoor advertising regulations.
Initially the clamp down will focus on executing High Court Orders obtained by the City for illegal outdoor advertising as well as illegal building work. This will then be followed by illegal land uses.
As outlined by the Executive Mayor, Councilor Mpho Parks Tau, during his budget speech on the 29 June 2011, a clear understanding of the past enables the City’s leadership to frame its agenda of transformation. The transformation agenda for the City of Johannesburg during this term includes:
Eliminating poverty and extreme inequalities;
Democratising the economy and empowering the disadvantaged;
Creating productive employment opportunities;
Initiating growth and development to improve the quality of life of our citizens, especially the poor; and
Giving due regard to the implementation of environmental sustainability and the judicial use of resources.
MMC Mathang says people also need to recognise “that law infringements and disregard of the City‘s town planning and building control regulations often lead to depletion of our limited resources to provide basic services to residents of Johannesburg.”
Any construction which happens without following proper town planning processes will have a negative impact on the provision of bulk sewer, water and electricity supply to residents in the neighbouring areas. He called on city residents to support efforts to deal decisively with the issue of law infringements and violation of regulations that impacts on the built environment.
Furthermore, the issue of illegal signage and advertising has been plaguing Johannesburg for some time due to disjointed efforts to combat this problem.
“The City has identified all illegal signage and outdoor advertising and the City together with the Sheriff’s office will be rolling out a programme to remove them without fear of favour” says Clr Mathang. The Department also intends to conduct operations to remove posters and will make a concerted effort to clean bridges and walls from graffiti and posters.
There have been numerous complaints from residents about illegal advertising in the City including on Council owned sites and the City is taking action.
Ends
“Joburg, a City where community development, personal growth and social mobility are enhanced so that challenges of poverty, vulnerability, inequality and social exclusion are fundamentally addressed”.
Issued on behalf of the mayoral committee member for Development Planning and Urban Management, Councillor Ruby Mathang
Issued by: The City of Johannesburg
Enquiries: Virgil James
Spokesperson
City of Joburg
082 467 9415/011 407 7226
