Suburban businesses under the spotlight following complaints

The proliferation of tuck-shops and other businesses in residential areas has some Dundonians hot under the collar as they claim permission from neighbours was never sought before these businesses opened.
Tuck-shops are especially prevalent in the Mpati and Berea areas but these are not the only businesses operating from private homes.
FC Bester, of the Endumeni Residents Association, said trucking businesses, mechanical workshops, hair salons and other businesses are now operating from homes and ‘it is unclear if owners had special consent from the municipality’.

“Once a home is used as a business, the owner must be charged business rates and the electricity charge should be moved from a residential to a business tariff. This is the case with B and B’s. The high electricity costs, associated with business tariffs, have meant that at least three B and B’s have closed in recent years as there was simply not enough feet to sustain the high costs.
“However, it appears as if these new businesses are operating without any consent. Their properties would have to be re-zoned and none of this has happened.

“The municipality must seriously consider their by-laws and enforce these. It is unfair to have two sets of laws in one town.”
Residents living in the vicinity of tuck shops and other businesses said they feared their properties would be devalued. “The businesses attract a lot of people who sometimes hang around and litter and are noisy. We don’t want that. There are also security fears,’ said one resident who declined to be named.

However, those operating the businesses said they had no option but to work from home as to rent a shop in the central business area ‘is astronomically high’. “Landlords charge small businesses a fortune for rent. That is why people are moving into the residential areas. We need to make a living too.
“We are offering a convenient service. If there are by-laws these must be applied equally,” said one owner who did not want to be identified.

The matter has been brought up at a ward two committee meeting chaired by ward councillor, Thulani Mahaye. Desi Padayachee, acting municipal manager, said he would thoroughly scrutinise the by-laws regarding the operating of businesses from private homes.
The Safety and Security Department has visited six tuckshops that are operating illegally in Dundee and Glencoe. There are also concerns that some of these tuckshops have illegal electrical connections.