​2012-03-20: Cleaning and clearing of vacant properties

THE City of Johannesburg Environmental Health Directorate is in the process of inspecting vacant properties and serving statutory notices on the owners requesting them to clean and clear their properties to the satisfaction of the Council within 21 days from the date of the notice.

The owners of vacant properties have a duty to ensure that their properties are at all times maintained in a clean and tidy condition, free of public health nuisances, hazards and risks and accumulations of refuse, rubble and other matter, and to ensure that the long grass and weeds are cut.

This exercise will go a long in the prevention of an emerging rodent problem that is becoming common throughout the City and can be linked to the un-kept vacant properties.

Property owners will be advised through the same notice of the consequences of non-compliance. These include: The City instituting a legal action against the owner, and/or the City cleaning and clearing the properties at owners cost.  Any costs incurred by the City in clearing these properties will be charged against the property owner through Rates and Taxes accounts.

Owners of vacant properties are also advised to fence off their properties in an approved manner in order to prevent illegal dumping and littering or to prevent vagrants and criminal elements from gaining access.

Properties that have not been cleaned and cleared by the end of the notice period will be referred to Johannesburg City Parks for cleaning and clearing at the owner’s cost.

The City hopes to have completed the inspection process by the end of May 2012 and that the adjoining property owners will then enjoy the benefit of clean and tidy vacant properties.

"The City of Johannesburg takes the protection, conservation and enhancement of its environment seriously and is calling on member of the community to refrain from illegal dumping of refuse and waste on vacant stands and open spaces", says Clr Nonceba Molwele, the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Health and Social Development in the City of Johannesburg.

Community members are also urged to report offenders to the Regional Environmental Health Offices in order to be brought to book. The contact details of the Regional Offices can be obtained at Tel (011) 407 6494/6545 during office hours.

For further information contact:
Nkosinathi Nkabinde
Communication Specialist
Public Liaison Department
City of Johannesburg
Tel: (011) 407-6477
Cell: 083 408 7787
E-mail: nkosinathin@joburg.org.za