METRO Police reported positive results in enforcing the Nuisances and Problem Behavior bylaw at a meeting in Durban this week.
Speaking at the Drought Relief Business Indaba, Deputy Head of Metro Police Operations, Steve Middleton, said the implementation phase was yielding positive results. He said he was sure that with more multi-disciplinary action being taken, in conjunction with stakeholders, bylaw enforcement would yield more results.
“Our daily bylaw enforcement operations have led to the arrests of more than 10 000 vagrants, 12 000 fines for bylaw contraventions have been issued and we are currently conducting three City clean-ups per week,” he said.
Middleton reported that all 68 nuisance bylaws were now on the Crime Administration System (CAS) and Metro Police can formally take infringements to SAPS to be treated similarly to crime offences, which up until now had been an issue when it came to enforcement.
City Senior Legal Advisor Kim Willis was present at the Indaba to educate stakeholders on the bylaw as well as the Beaches and the Problem Buildings bylaws.
Willis said the bylaws were publicised in the provincial gazette in 2015, however the City had allowed itself six months of training before the implementation phase, which began in March this year.
Dumile Cele, CEO of Durban Chamber Of Commerce and Industry, said the Chamber expressed its support to the new bylaws on Nuisances and Behaviour in Public Places and the Problem Buildings bylaw.
“Both these bylaws give confidence to business that Durban can continue on its tourism growth path and more importantly it gives confidence to investors looking to take advantage of our status as the first African Common Wealth Host City. Enforcability of these bylaws will take centre stage, and the outcome of proper enforcement will be an increase in jobs for Durban’s residents, a more liveable and walkable city, and a positive impact to the City’s GDP,” she said.
