Douglasdale Business and Residents Forum wants a contractor responsible for community
DOUGLASDALE– Mottram said the contractor responsible for the destruction of the garden will have to pay for all plants destroyed.
The City’s Planning Law Enforcement and Outdoor Advertising By-Law Unit in Region E has removed a billboard that was illegally erected on the corner of Douglasdale Drive and Leslie Avenue in Douglasdale.
City of Joburg unit operations manager James Rammala said the matter was brought to their attention and the structure was removed. “Planning Law Enforcement and Outdoor Advertising Unit received a complaint from Citizens Relations Urban Management. One of the officials attended to the complaint and instructed the construction workers to remove the illegal steel structure,” Rammala said.
He added that ‘the contractor disappeared’ after they were approached.
Chairperson of the Douglasdale Business and Residents Forum Susan Mottram said the contractor displayed disrespect for the community when destroying plants in a community garden, which has been there for more than 13 years, to put up the structure.
“We, the members of the community, planted these gardens 13 years ago and have nurtured this garden, putting in our money and hours of time and attention, willingly and happily. The contractors have decimated our garden to instal a massive billboard, which I’m sure the community doesn’t want there. They have ripped out and taken our plants to instal a mammoth frame. We have a way leave [written permission from the City] for the two gardens at that intersection,” she said.
Mottram said the contractor responsible for the destruction of their garden will have to pay for all plants destroyed. “We want those responsible for the destruction to be held accountable and pay for all the damage caused to our plants in the garden. We call upon all members of the Douglasdale community to help us bring perpetrators to book,” she said.
Ward 106 councillor Chris Santana commended the City’s law enforcement agencies for their swift response and urged community members to report illegal advertising. “I am very grateful that the structures of a billboard have been removed. I call upon members of the community to report illegal advertising boards in their areas to put an end to this crime,” Santana said.
