Tshwane metro shuts down ‘illegal’ shops in Sunnyside

Illegal connections have been cut off, and noncompliant businesses have been shut down.

Tshwane mayor Solly Msimanga. Photo: Keitumetse Maako

Sunnyside was shaken up on Monday morning as Tshwane’s mayor joined the metro police in a clean-up operation of the area, Pretoria East Rekord reports.

Solly Msimanga and team removed illegal electricity connections in Nuweveld, Tambotie and Nix buildings as part of the city’s effort to “reclaim” Sunnyside by ridding it of crime and grime.

Nuweveld, allegedly owned by public works and occupied by SAPS, was believed to owe the city millions in unpaid rates.

“[It] owes the city more than R2 million in property rates and taxes,” Msimanga said.

City technician Khathu Mandiwana said multiple meters in the building had been tampered with.

Metro inspector for electricity Phanuel Netshirovha said all of the meters in Nix were illegally connected.

“There are six meters and, as you can see, all of them have been tampered with.”

At Tambotie, the team also discovered water supply had been illegally connected, which the building caretaker admitted having been aware of.

He said drugs, overcrowding and prostitution were problems in the building.

Msimanga then hit local businesses believed to be trading illegally.

“Three businesses did not meet the standard operating conditions and transgressed various by-laws through the selling of expired food, operating without a trading licence and illegally connecting to municipal services.”