Metro officials issue contravention fines during compliance operations in the west
The operation involved removal of vagrants and vendors as well as confiscation of products.
Tshwane mayor Cilliers Brink and the metro police (TMPD), supported by other officials, recently conducted a by-law operation in Pretoria West.
The operation involved compliance inspections where contravention fines were issued, while vagrants and vendors were removed.
A recycling business in Daspoort was fined for health contraventions and an illegal electricity connection.
“Recycling is great, we should have it, but it has to happen within the bounds of the law. It cannot operate within a residential area,” said Brink.
“It is a difficult fight but one that is necessary because without order, without rules, no clear development, growth or advancement is possible in our society, but we’re committed to getting it right.”
The officials went to the green container informal settlement on Bremer Street, where TMPD officers confiscated products from unlicensed traders.
The recycling depot on Moot Street and vagrants at Sinovich Park and Groen dam were searched for drugs and contraband.
Ward 1 councillor Leon Kruyshaar, who was accompanying the mayor, said engagements are in the works with Hercules police to ensure trading licenses are issued correctly.
“We found SAPS Hercules issues trading licenses to businesses without considering other stakeholders like Tshwane. The mayor and the city will engage with SAPS on a national level regarding this issue,” he said.
Kruyshaar, afffectionately referred to as the “TikTok councillor”, has made a recovery from the accident he was involved in earlier this month.
“The licenses are supposed to be issued by SAPS, but only when it has been established that the premises are suitable for the specific business types. Premises must have the correct zoning. The necessary licenses or consent must be obtained from various departments within Tshwane like environmental, health, fire, and electrical departments but it seems this is not the case anymore as shebeens, recyclers appear to be opening all over without any of the above due diligence required by law,” he said.
Kruyshaar said this issue does not only affect his ward, but the metro as a whole.
“Just imagine businesses are opening in residential areas on premises that were all previously zoned as residential houses but it’s now by a spaza shop or shebeen like Tam Tam Tavern on Moot Street… how is that possible, a liquor outlet smack bang between houses? People need to sleep, but how is this possible if taverns are open until after 02:00 20m from your bedroom window, you have loud music playing?” he said.
Watch here:
#TshwaneByLaws This morning we issued fines to a recycling business in PTA west with an illegal electricity connection and other health violations. @CityTshwane pic.twitter.com/ydy3D78CEc
— Mayor Cilliers Brink (@tshwane_mayor) March 18, 2024
Watch here:
@leonkruyshaar13
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