The DA has called for immediate action by the metro to enforce by-laws and stop illegal businesses from trading throughout the metro.
“It is urgent that the MMC for corporate and shared services, Phelisa Nkunjana, instructs senior officials in the town planning department to act immediately and support officials who have not managed to stop an illegal panel beating business from operating in Klippoortjie, Germiston,” said Ward 39 councillor Michael Kriek.
“The tenant on a property on Byrne Street has ignored repeated warnings from both the town planning department and the Metro Police to stop operating in a residential area.
“Several inspections from town planning confirmed that the mechanical and panel beating operation on the property was illegal; these visits were followed up by the EMPD, who gave the tenant notice to remove the vehicles parked on the pavement.
“In November, 2013, he was served with a notice to stop all operations within 28 days, but no further action was taken when the grace period expired and his business was still up and running.
“In January, this year, after a meeting with me, he confirmed, in writing, his intention to move his business by the end of March.”
Kriek added that further investigations indicated that the tenant owes the metro over R18 000 in unpaid rates; his electricity has been cut off, yet was reconnected without paying the arrears.
The DA said this is highly irregular and demanded that the metro acts once and for all, to stop one man terrorising his neighbours with noise and pollution every day.
“The DA also wants an explanation from the finance department about how this tenant was allowed to continue consuming electricity and not pursued for the amount owing, as are all ordinary residents and businesses in Ekurhuleni,”said Kriek.
“We will expose any evidence we find of ”special treatment” being afforded to particular consumers.
“It is especially worrying in this case, taking into account that the consumer is already acting against the law.”
