City to clamp down on bad behaviour in public

Durban residents will have to be on their best behaviour in public when the Nuisances and Behaviours in Public Places by-law will be implemented.

Technically it aims to provide measures to regulate certain behaviours which are likely to cause discomfort, annoyance or inconvenience the public and to try and prevent it from happening.

That means that if you are caught urinating in public, you could receive a heavy fine of about R40 000.

The by-law prohibits nuisance behaviour in public places, noise, litter, hanging items on your balcony or fences, vandalism and obstructing or disturbing traffic among others.

The list goes on including no foul language or gestures, washing in public, sleeping on benches or shouting and screaming will not be tolerated.

Metro police and other law enforcement officials are being trained to regulate this behaviour for when the by-law will be implemented.