New spaza shop in Lombardy East faces closure
LOMBARDY EAST – It is the responsibility of the City to educate the residents that they cannot build without approved plans and they will be violating the law.
A new building earmarked for a spaza shop in Lombardy East is causing a stir with residents of the suburb calling for the authorities to put a stop to it.
Representing the residents, Greater Lombardy East Residents Association (Glera) has approached the City of Johannesburg seeking assistance to stop the mushrooming of spaza shops in their area.
Abey Mamaregane, the chairperson of Glera, said the current in construction to-be spaza shop building will not be allowed, citing transgression of the City’s by-laws.
The building, on the corner of Wordsworth and Marlborough roads, has been opposed by the residents who want it to be demolished.
The town planning requirements for zoning does not allow for this unless approved by adjacent properties and the Johannesburg City Council said Mamaregane. “We have not approached the owner and normally they are not happy when we tell them that what they are doing is illegal, hence we prefer the authorised officials of the City to approach property owner.
“Remember the last one we reported (on the corner of Jenner and Kind Edward roads) and the City managed to issue relevant documentation to stop it. It is the responsibility of the City to educate the residents that they cannot build without approved plans and they will be violating the law.”
The spaza shops affect property values in the area, and in recent days there has been community outcry regarding the inferior quality of their products, he said.
“We understand the financial issues as these are challenges that most people have. We just need to be considerate to other fellow residents and property owners when implementing other measures for extra income.
“We will ask the council to break them down if they are built illegally and everyone who builds illegally will have to face the law and pay for the consequences. We have no problem if people build with approved plans by the council.”
Details: www.glera.co.za
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