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Last week, City of Johannesburg inspectors and enforcement staff took part in several integrated bylaw enforcement operations across the city involving the Land Use Department, Environmental Health, Johannesburg Municipal Police Department (JMPD) and the South African Police Service (SAPS). 

One such operation targeted liquor and night life establishments in Region A. 

The Departments inspectors clamped down on a number of businesses operating without approved building plans. The team, along with SAPS and JMPD, also closed liquor outlets that were operating without liquor licences.

While attending to another integrated operation in Diepsloot, our building inspectors dealt with an illegally built structure that had been built on top of the city’s sewer system infrastructure, blocking the Joburg Water teams from being able to do maintenance work on the pipes. The owner was given a warning by the building inspectors and asked to remove the structure.

The Department’s building inspectors carried out 546 inspections across the city with the Single Law Enforcement inspectors carrying out 144 inspections. Many of the contraventions and warnings to residents comprises notices to residents who have built structures without approved plans.

MMC for Development Planning Cllr Belinda Echeozonjoku has urged residents to follow due process and get building plans drawn and approved before undertaking construction work to avoid building on top of important city services and infrastructure. 

“The city would like to remind the public that the use of land in contravention of the Town Planning scheme and building without approved plans are contraventions that warrant action from the city. Any person who contravenes legislation will be issued with a notice informing them of their contravention. 

“Should the person not comply, the matter will be referred to the appointed Council attorneys, who will initiate litigation processes against the contravening party. Ultimately the City will execute the land use/ demolition court orders after they have been issued by the courts,” said Cllr Echeozonjoku.

Issued by Member of the Mayoral Committee for Development Planning, Cllr Belinda Echeozonjoku