The City of Johannesburg may soon impose higher tarriffs for illegal businesses to prevent their uncontrolled mushrooming in residential areas.
This, it says, is to ensure compliance with building control bylaws after residents have complained of illegal businesses such as bottle stores in their neighbourhoods.
Still in draft form, the Property Rates Policy and Tariffs proposal was tabled for public comment before the end of April, and if passed, would increase the tariffs of running a business illegally by six percent. Currently, running a legal business in residential areas is four times higher than residential tariffs.
City spokesperson for Group Finance Cluster, Stanley Maphologela said the action was to encourage operators to obtain consent to use premises for businesses from the municipality.
“Private properties with public benefits like organisations protecting animals will get rebates of up to 100 percent, private sports clubs will get 40 percent and heritage sites 20 percent,” he said.
Maphologela said the revenue generated would be used to fund essential public services such as health, safety and security, public parks, roads and other community-related services.
If approved the new rates policy will come into effect 1 July this year.
Details: www.joburg.org.za
