City threatens to shut down illegal panelbeaters

ETHEKWINI Municipality has issued a warning to all illegal panelbeaters who continue to violate City by-laws that authorities will not hesitate to shut down their business.

This comes after an operation to crackdown on illegal business in the CBD was conducted yesterday, 5 June, as part of the Clean and Maintain My City Initiative which is aimed at tackling issues including by-law infringements, derelict buildings, litter, pollution and social ills.

The municipality’s head of development planning, environment and management unit, Musa Mbhele said six owners of illegal panelbeating premises were given final written notices to shut down their businesses.

“The business owners were required to produce evidence that their businesses were legal, failing which those businesses will be shut down. If they persist to operate illegally they could be prosecuted or arrested,” said Mbhele.

Mbhele said the municipality also reserved the right to pursue an application in the High Court in terms of an Urgent Prevention Order, which may result in hefty fines issued to illegal operators and negligent landlords.

The illegal operations include spray painting preparations, servicing, fitting, panel beating and mechanical repairs.

A penalty in the form of either a fine or imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years, or both could be handed down to offending operations.

Summons amounting to R5000 may be served and this excludes the institution of an illegal rate code on the premises which may be equivalent to a rating of five times the standard rating.

“Panelbeaters who have been given notices to shut down their businesses have 30 days to make a written representation to the Municipality on how they will comply.

Panelbeating businesses may only be run in an industrial zone and the Municipality will not accept any applications for such in a residential zone,” said Mbhele.