LAW enforcers and various metro departments went out in full force on Friday to ensure that by-laws are complied with and to target those found committing acts of criminality.
The special joint operation was conducted from 11am to 2pm. Several businesses were issued with warnings, instructing them to put their houses in order as the law enforcers intended to come down heavily on all those who would fail to heed the warnings as per the period of grace afforded.
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Chief Supt Wilfred Kgasago, metro police spokesman, said: “The operation comprised of EMPD equestrian, K9 and precinct members, police liquor inspectors, home affairs officials with metro officials from housing, town planning, health and finance departments.”
The operation targeted establishments transgressing their permit conditions, shops selling expired foodstuff, illegal taverns, panel beaters and spray painters using residential houses without proper re-zoning, illegal connections of electricity and water, those who are in arrears with regards to payment of rent and electricity as well as illegal hawkers obstructing pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
“As the special operation was mostly conducted to re-educate and refresh residents’ minds and business persons on the importance of playing by the rules, numerous written warnings in which offenders were granted grace periods of between seven and 21 days to put their houses in order, were issued. Failure to comply with these warning letters when a revisit is made will leave law enforcers with only the option of coming down heavily on the transgressors.
During the operation, five undocumented persons, which included two found with housebreaking implements and dagga, were arrested. At the corner of Pascoe and Commissioner streets expired foodstuffs were confiscated from a shop.
Panther restaurant, illegally selling food and operating a hair salon thinly divided by a partitioning board, as well as Affinity Bar, both in Kempton Road, were served with final notices. A scrap yard, also on Kempton Road, was found to be illegally operating as a recycling depot for bottles and plastics. It was also served with a written notice.
The undocumented five, two Nigerians and three Zimbabwean nationals, whose ages range between 19 and 33, were charged at Kempton Park Police Station.
