City demolishes illegal tavern

ON Friday, July 21, the eThekwini Municipality demolished an illegal building at 44 Lancers Road that was operating as an illegal tavern. According to the municipality, the operation was a joint effort by several City departments, including Human Settlements, the Area-Based Management Unit, Metro Police, Problem Buildings Division and the Urban Improvement Precinct.

“We have actively engaged with the individuals involved and completed a comprehensive profile of these occupants through our Human Settlements Department. It’s critical to clarify that the demolished building was not utilised as residential premises by these occupants but instead served as an unlawful tavern. The demolition action undertaken, therefore, did not infringe upon any legal regulations, including the Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation of Land Act (PIE Act) or Section 26 of the South African Constitution,” said the City’s Head of Communications Lindiwe Khuzwayo.

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Khuzwayo says the police were also instrumental in the success of the operation. “The Metro Police and the South African Police Service (SAPS) were instrumental, not only in maintaining the security of personnel in the face of the occupants’ grievances and safeguarding spectators by ensuring a safe perimeter from the demolition site, but also in facilitating effective traffic management throughout the operation. Moreover, their contribution was vital in the planning stages. They supplied key crime statistics from the area, performed raids on the unlawful tavern, and provided valuable insights that significantly influenced the final decision to proceed with the demolition. The illicit tavern was clearly identified as a major factor contributing to the local crime rate, solidifying the justification for the demolition.”

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The illegal tavern contributed to major crime that impacted the entire CBD, and Khuzwayo says that the City took action following numerous complaints by conducting several raids which yielded positive results. “The primary aim of the City in undertaking the demolition was dual-pronged: Firstly, to decrease the crime rate in the locality, and secondly, to ensure the overall public safety. The building in question, being used as an illicit tavern, was pinpointed through police statistics and reports as a considerable contributor to local crime. Additionally, the building was declared a ‘problem building’ in line with the Problem Building Bylaw 2015, due to structural hazards, representing a serious threat to life and property. Thus, in a bid to prevent possible casualties and reduce safety risks, the municipality found it crucial to proceed with the demolition. Furthermore, this action aligns with the city’s wider objectives of enhancing safety for all residents of eThekwini and contributing to the broader process of urban regeneration.”

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