Mr Ben Dorling (chief financial officer) and Mr Selati Matlejoane (acting director public safety) led the team on Friday, January 24 who dug into the core of the CBD during the project.
Business owners quickly scrambled to gather their stock as part of the project was removing everything that did not belong on the pavements.
The municipal bylaws stipulate that goods cannot be displayed on the pavements, as it is municipal property.
“This project is to ensure that we root out all forms of dirt, dysfunctional infrastructures, non compliance to the city’s bylaws while keeping the city clean, sustainable and well maintained,” said Dorfling.
He warned shop owners that the municipality’s law enforcement unit will make regular visits to see if they comply with the municipal bylaws.
As part of this project Dorfling and his team also visited several electricity distribution boxes in the vicinity.
The contractor appointed to cut illegal electrical connections, said they have disconnected electricity to 20 businesses in the last month that was found to be stealing electricity from the municipality.
“We are busy looking at our distribution losses and the high figures are telling us that the municipality is facing an enormous problem,” Dorfling said and explained the municipality is embarking on a zero tolerance campaign with a clampdown on illegal use of property, illegal advertisement and infringement of by-laws.
He warned business owners that apart from disconnecting their electricity, the municipality are also imposing huge fines on their municipal accounts if they are found to be using electricity and water illegally.
