In an effort to clean up Isipingo, the regeneration team shut down two scrapyards that were operating illegally in the area. eThekwini Municipality chief operations officer, Musa Mbhele, said the businesses were contravening section 77 of the town planning ordinance, section 76 of the planning and land use management bylaw of 2016 and section 4 of the national building regulations.
This success follows numerous attempts by the enforcement team to ensure that businesses operating in the area are compliant with the local bylaws and the national regulations. “We hope this sets an example to the rest of the businesses operating without the proper authorisations and proves that the city means business. There are proper procedures in place to run a business and people must follow the rule of law,” said Mbhele.
“The enforcement teams are inspecting and prosecuting offenders contravening the bylaws every day. Three more cases of non-compliance are in the litigation process. If contravention notices are ignored, then the city is not afraid to go the legal route as in the case of the two scrapyards that were shut down,” said Mbhele.
After an out of court settlement in which they agreed to pay all legal costs, the perpetrators have found new premises and moved their businesses to more suitable locations that are zoned for their activity.
READ ALSO: Urban design framework on the cards for Isipingo CBD
In their regular enforcement action, the team is also dealing with illegal dumping, illegal water and electricity connections, environmental hazards, illegal building and problem buildings, and illegal trading. “Given time, we hope that we will be able to find solutions to all these challenges facing Isipingo. We urge the community to work with us so that Isipingo can be restored to its former glory as a key industrial and residential node in the South Durban region,” said Mbhele.
Illegal dumping, illegal trading, illegal business operations and illegal building in the Isipingo area only can be reported to the regeneration team on 031-322-8407 or 031-322-8488 during office hours. Other important numbers to report faults or service delivery problems are: Water, roads and storm water faults: 080-131-3013; water faults – WhatsApp to 073-148-3477; electricity faults: 080-131-3111; environmental health: 031-311-3555; illegal dumping: 031-311-8804; emergency services: 031-361-0000.
READ ALSO: Isipingo ‘criminal haven’ cleaned up
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