GALLERY and VIDEO: Ferndale Integrated Visible Service Delivery Operation

City Council urban inspectors for Region B and Ward 104 councillor Mike Wood met at the Randburg Police Station on 20 March to discuss all the problems in his ward

According to Lieutenant Colonel Solomon Mudau, the urban inspectors for region B, City Power, health inspectors, JMPD and the Randburg SAPS came together in a joint operation to address illegal electricity connections, illegal businesses and hijacked homes in Ward 104. “After visiting several houses, official’s identified four suspected hijacked houses, as the people living in the houses could not give the owners’ details but were allegedly paying rent,” said Mudau.

Ward 104 urban inspector Nokuthula Ngobese described the Ferndale integrated visible service delivery operation conducted as successful. “Region B inspectors will monitor all unresolved complaints and continue to assist Ward 104 councillor and residents,” said Nogobese.

City Power came across a house that had last bought electricity in 2014 and still had electricity. The residence was disconnected and their meter impounded immediately by City Power. Another shocking discovery made by City Power was at a residence that had about 10 illegal cable connections connected to one meter box.

”Illegal connections are dangerous as children can be shocked, some meters were burned and some of the circuits missing,”said City Power’s Derick Alexander.

Inspectors then found a property with rubbish bags filled with dry grass that will allegedly be used for feeding animals in the winter.They also found seven dogs on the property and the tenant did not have a permit to keep so many dogs. An illegal mechanical business and a crèche were shut down as they were operating from the same property and posed a health risk for children at the crèche.

The following service delivery issues were resolved:

• City Parks cut overgrown grass that was identified
• Joburg Water resolved water leaks
• Pikitup collected all rubbish that was identified
• City Power resolved all issues that were identified

Law Enforcement:

• Twelve properties were raided
• Building Control issued four notices
• Environmental Health issued four fines for illegal businesses and public health nuisance
• City Power disconnected illegal electricity connections on four properties and impounded their meter boxes
• Randburg SAPS assisted to gain access to illegal communes, provided safety to City of Joburg officials
• JMPD bylaw unit impounded goods from illegal street traders.