Councillor commends police and their partners on Sunnyside clampdown
“The clean-up drives prevent businesses from closing down and a collapse of the local economy,” says ward 81 councillor, Mpho Lewele.
Ward 81 councillor Mpho Lewele praised the Sunnyside police, metro police and other stakeholders for embarking on a campaign to restore law and order in Sunnyside.
This was after various law enforcement agencies last week embarked on a massive clean-up drive, officially called a social crime prevention operation, to enforce law and order in the area.
Contravention of by-laws such as blocking the sidewalks with hawkers’ trading stock, dumping garbage on the pavements and blocking the entrances to formal businesses prompted the operation.
Lewele welcomed the operation and described it as a step in the right direction.
“This type of operation is important because it is helping community leaders easily fulfil their mission of bringing back law and order to Sunnyside,” he said.
He said this was in line with their project as leaders in the area to revive Sunnyside and restore it to its former glory.
“The restoration of law and order prevents a lot of future problems,” he said, citing that several businesses closed down owing to unfair competition created by illegal informal traders who traded on the sidewalks right in front of formal businesses.
He said the disrespectful behaviour made it difficult for people to use sidewalks and have easy access to formal businesses, which put businesses under immense strain.
“The clean-up drives prevent businesses from closing down and a collapse of our local economy collapses.”
Lewele was impressed by seeing Robert Sobukwe Street, formerly Esselen Street, neat.
“It has been a long time since we had a neat Robert Sobukwe.”
According to the councillor, keeping the environment clean was good for property and business owners.
“We are facing a situation where property values are declining in the area because of illegal activities. Walkways are not meant for conducting businesses, but they are meant for people to walk freely and without problems.”
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