Officials issued four administrative fines and seven statutory notices during a multi-agency service delivery operation in Westdene on August 26. The operation targeted widespread by-law infringements, illegal dumping, and problem properties as part of an effort to restore order in the suburb.

Citizen Relations and Urban Management (CRUM), working alongside various City of Johannesburg entities, conducted the operation as part of its routine quarterly and annual service delivery programme, after identifying recurring service delivery concerns.

Read more: CRUM and City of Joburg entities target illegal dumping and neglected spaces in Westdene

CRUM official Xolani Khumalo said Westdene was selected because of persistent by-law enforcement.

“In our yearly and quarterly plans, we identify wards experiencing service delivery challenges and include them in our operational schedule,” Khumalo said. “Westdene was selected because of ongoing illegal dumping, compliance issues at trading businesses, abandoned properties and other by-law concerns.”

Among the prioritised sites was a neglected old-age home, Eeufees Oord Retirement Village, where additional municipal teams were deployed to address the condition of the property. The operation brought together multiple municipal entities, including the Johannesburg Roads Agency, Pikitup, Johannesburg Water, City Power, Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo, Development Planning, Environmental Health, JMPD, and SAPS.

Khumalo said coordinated operations allowed departments to address interconnected municipal issues simultaneously rather than working in isolation.

“Most municipal challenges are linked,” he said. “If one department is repairing infrastructure, another may need to restore the area afterwards. Coordination ensures residents receive a complete service instead of fragmented interventions.”

Also read: CRUM raid at Emmarentia property exposes overflowing waste crisis

According to information supplied to the publication by CRUM after the blitz, officials issued four administrative fines, six statutory notices from Environmental Health, and one statutory notice from Development Planning.

CRUM further confirmed that follow-up inspections by urban inspectors will take place within 30 days to assess compliance and determine whether further enforcement action is required.

While municipal teams removed illegally dumped waste during the operation, Khumalo stressed that maintaining cleaner neighbourhoods ultimately required community participation.

“Residents must report illegal dumping, lawlessness and problem properties as early as possible,” he said. “Long-term success depends on communities working with the municipality by reporting issues and helping monitor areas after interventions have taken place.”

He added that regular follow-up inspections would ensure that non-compliant businesses and property owners did not simply resume unlawful activities once municipal teams had left.

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