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Yesterday, 13 February 2019, I joined the City of Johannesburg’s urban inspectors in Region B on their weekly Visible Service Delivery Blitz, visiting 6 problem properties in Randburg.
These inspectors had been to each of the six properties before, two of which were residential, issuing non-compliance notices, but to no avail.
The owners of these properties and businesses completely ignored these interventions by the City, which often come to our attention through concerned and frustrated neighbours. This led to us closing down three of the four illegally operating businesses visited yesterday. The other business had suspiciously closed before we arrived and the other properties were issued with notices to comply.
The bylaw contraventions at these properties ranged from illegal accommodation, lack of permits, health hazards, noise nuisance, illegal electricity connections, endangering the safety of the building and people in the building, building control violations, and lack of occupational health permits. I am seriously concerned about the level of reckless disregard for the law. By closing down these businesses, we are making sure that the law is adhered to. We cannot afford a society that is ruled by lawlessness, whatsoever.
These blitzes by our urban inspectors will continue every week as we aim to have every business operating within the City of Johannesburg compliant to its bylaws.
Ultimately, we want our residents and business owners to flourish, but we cannot allow this to happen at the cost of breaking the law.
I encourage residents to report any suspicious activities or bylaw contraventions to 0860 65 28 74 or 011 375 5555.
For media queries:
Chantelle Fourie-Shawe
Media Specialist: Office of the Executive Mayor
081 546 1014
chantellef@joburg.org.za
