Municipality raid on non-compliant businesses in CBD
This was to clamp down on illegal electricity connections and the selling of expired goods.
Various divisions within the Rand West City Local Municipality (RWCLM) left no stone unturned and took to the streets to clamp down on illegal electricity connections and the selling of expired goods.
On Wednesday, March 8, all eyes were on the numerous businesses operating on the R28, also known as Main Reef Road in the Randfontein Central Business District (CBD). Another focus point during the raid was checking whether or not businesses are adhering to the health and safety standards, as well as checking if municipal bylaws were also being followed.
Speaking to the Herald during the raid was Rand West City Public Safety Chief Kenny Mampondo who warned those on the wrong side of the law.
“We have embarked on a by-law enforcement blitz around the Randfontein CBD. This is an integrated law enforcement effort that has roped in various departments including immigration and electrical. The whole aim is to deal with those who are not adhering to municipal bylaws.
“As it stands, four businesses were found to have been tampering with electricity metres and this includes an institution of learning. We also roped in environmental health workers from the West Rand District Municipality (WRDM) who also do inspections terms of expired food and cosmetic products. We found expired food items and also discovered that the dates on expired non-perishable items were scratched off,” said Mampondo who added that the operation will be sustained moving forward.
He included that the West Rand Fire and Rescue team was also present during the raid and was checking if the buildings were complying with regulations and whether or not they had fire hydrants and fire extinguishers.
It was found that the institution of learning had fire extinguishers that were empty and the building itself does not comply with safety standards.
According to Mampondo, officials also found water running down electrical cables at one of the institutions of learning.
While this may be, he added that those found to have transgressed will be reported to the relevant departments who will do a follow-up and act accordingly.
