Greater Lombardy East Residents’ Association wants mini spaza shop gone
REMBRANDT PARK – This is a residential area and the structure is built on top of the servitude.
The Greater Lombardy East Residents’ Association (Glera) is opposed to the newly built spaza shop on the corner of Jennerweg and King Edward Road in Rembrandt Park.
The association’s chairman, Abey Mamaregane, told the North Eastern Tribune on 21 May that they want the spaza shop gone.
Mamaregane said allowing this will bring havoc in their suburb citing traffic congestion and heavy flow of people in the area.
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He said their concern is that the structure of the spaza shop is built over a servitude which is not conducive for such a building.
“As Glera we are very worried about this and it is because the house is zoned as a residential area and not for business,” said Mamaregane.
“The spaza shop will attract a lot of traffic flow considering that there are no sidewalks in the area, this will cause havoc. Most residents have condemned this and want this spaza shop gone.”
Glera has approached the City of Johannesburg in their quest to raise alarm about the situation and Mamaregane said they need to look at the by-laws.
“The City has to come and investigate if the structure is not infringing on the by-laws, I mean this is zoned as a residential area and not a business premises,” he said.
Roweena Chetty from the development planning in Region E and F in the City has advised Mamaregane that the Department of Planning Law Enforcement can only enforce the land use zoning by-laws if the Spaza shop is in operation.
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Chetty said as the City is regulated in terms of Section 62 of the Municipal By-laws to enforce compliance and enforce its town planning scheme conditions were applicable.
“The construction aspect will be investigated by Building Development Management as they need to ascertain if building plans have been submitted and approved for the conversion of the garage and take the necessary action deemed application in terms of the National Building Regulation Act,” said Chetty.
Ward 81 councillor Irene Rugheimer could not respond to the matter yet and told Tribune she would investigate and comment afterwards.
Details: Abey Mamaregane 082-429-6009.
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