‘Mega brothel in Berea’ – residents
BEREA – Berea residents are fuming over the City’s ‘leniency’ towards the Lily lodge owner who ‘illegally’ joined three properties in Berea and is turning it into a ‘mega brothel’.
Chad Thomas from IRS forensic investigations said no environmental impact study had been conducted and changes had been made without council permission or community consultation.
The lodge is on Louis Botha Avenue and comprises of number 42, 44 and 44A. Another angry resident who didn’t want to be identified, stated that entrances to the other two properties were closed and there was one entrance and exit to Louis Botha which was creating traffic in Louis Botha Avenue.
He said with the BRT construction there was one lane available for motorists and if there was a motorist entering the lodge and one driving out of the lodge, one must stop for the one driving out which creates traffic.
The other resident also added that the city had refused to allow other guesthouse and hotel owners to open entrances on the side of Louis Botha Avenue due to possible traffic congestion.
The resident added that the city had put stringent regulations when other business owners were applying for business operation, but the resident alleged that the city was so lenient with the Lily Lodge owner.
He said the lodge had about 50 rooms with one entrance and exit point to Louis Botha Avenue and three properties illegally joined, and the city was doing nothing about it.
Thomas said, “This has created an eyesore environment for the community. It is a danger to motorists and pedestrians. The fact that there are offers of R50 per hour in a lodge, does not require someone to be a rocket scientist as to figure out what is happening in there. It shows there are illegal activities happening at the lodge. The other resident also claimed the lodge was selling liquor illegally.”
The city’s spokesperson Nthatisi Modingoane properties were zoned as “Residential 4” in terms of the Johannesburg Town Planning Scheme, 1979 which permits a guest house ‘residential building’ as a primary right’.
Modingoane said, “No consolidation application has been submitted and the sites are still registered as separate erven. With respect to possible illegal activities on site – we have registered the complaint and our enforcement section will be inspecting the sites.”
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