The project came about following numerous site visits to the area by the Development Planning MMC Ros Greeff highlighted the need for a bolder effort to deal with lawlessness.
Some of these challenges include illegal trading, dumping, littering, land and building invasions as well as other by-law contraventions.
Illegal connection of infrastructure, including electricity, was found to be rife in the inner city. So was lack of a sense of civic pride and ownership.
The clean sweep initiative is supported by public safety and Metro police and involves other government departments and entities such as Johannesburg Roads Agency, City Power, Pikitup, Johannesburg Water, environment, health and Johannesburg Property Company.
The overall clean sweep strategy aims to restore the inner city, maintaining renewed standards and strengthen by-law enforcement.
Tau said that the operation would continue until order was restored in the city centre.
“This is not one of those campaigns allocated a timeframe. The teams will be here every day until this area becomes what we want it to be,” he said.
