ETHEKWINI Municipality has called on communites to report businesses operating without the necessary authorisations.
In a media release last week, the municipality said it was aggressively working to clamp down on illegal businesses operating in residentail areas.
In recent weeks, the city’s Isipingo Regeneration team has tackled illegal business operations in the Isipingo area and is working to close down these businesses.
Besides the recent shut down of two scrap yards, the team has put pressure on all illegal business operations in the area.
Eight cases, including two for trucking and two container depots have been referred to the municipality’s Legal Services Unit for further litigation.
Illegal trucking, spray painting and panel beating, scrapyards and container depots have been targeted as they have a negative impact on the surrounding community.
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EThekwini Municipality’s spokesperson Msawakhe Mayisela, said the negative impacts of scrapyards in residential areas included the fact that criminals stole metal from surrounding residential properties, stole manhole covers which could lead to fatal road accidents, stripped appliances for metal components, stole copper cables and then discarded the non-metal components into nearby streams.
“In order to operate a business in a residential area, a special consent must be sought from the Town Planning Department. According to the Town Planning Scheme, a home business should not impact negatively on the neighbourhood,” he said.
Industrial uses such as panelbeating, spray painting, motor related uses, as well as manufacturing will not be allowed. As part of the special consent application, the applicant needs to seek the written consent of neighbours. The application is also considered by other units such as the Fire Department, Health Unit, to ensure that a wholistic approach is taken before approving an application,” he said.
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