Ward 132 residents councillor and representative debate By-Law enforcement
Annette Deppe, Ward 132 councillor, said after getting several complaints from residents regarding By-Law, thought it will be great to have a public meeting with all role players involved.
To ensure that by-laws in Ward 132 are adhered to councillor Annette Deppe met with residents at the Midrand Fire Station on November 20.
JMPD head Superintendent Elias Phasha, Environmental Health Department practitioner John Nyambi and Democratic Alliance MPL Michael Sun attended the meeting while representatives from the city’s Citizen and Relations Unit Management and Midrand police were absent despite invitations.
“This [meeting] is to ensure that residents know which department or departments to call for any by-laws assistance,” Deppe said. “Some of the complaints I have received from the residents include illegal parking of e-hailing taxis, taxis driving on verges, hawkers, disposing of building rubble, public drinking and outdoor advertising trailers.”
Phasha said the JMPD By-law Management Unit’s (BMU) main role was to oversee traffic management and crime prevention.
“In this area of Ward 132, we have the beggars at various intersections… and we are responsible for ensuring those people are not there. We also deal with illegal traders in the area through our department called the BMU to deal with them. Most people think that it is only the responsibility of the JMPD to deal with issues but we work hand-in-hand with other entities [environmental health, Pikitup and Midrand police etc],” said Phasha.
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Regarding illegal land invasions, Phasha said JMPD worked with the Department of Human Settlements.
Nyambi urged the attendees to report any environmental health issues to his department.
“Yes, we do work with other departments to ensure that by-laws are enforced. But what is noise to someone could be pleasure or enjoyment to the other. So there is a thin line which is why it’s important to report so we can investigate,” concluded Nyambi.
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