Councillor commends crackdown on lawlessness in Sinoville
Key areas have become hotspots for illegal activities, including drug deals, unlicensed businesses and public drinking.
Ward 98 councillor Lenise Breytenbach has expressed satisfaction with recent Tshwane metro efforts in curbing illegal activities and prompting compliance in Sinoville, north of Pretoria.
This comes after the ward councillor issued a plea for intervention as vagrancy continued to spiral out of control in the community.
In recent months, squatters have increasingly occupied public and business spaces, leading to a surge in disorder.
Key areas – such as around Roman’s Pizza on Sefako Makgatho Drive and busy intersections like Marija Street and Matlabas Avenue – have become hotspots for illegal activities, including drug deals, unlicensed businesses and public drinking.
Concerted actions by the metro and the Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) are aimed at tackling some of the region’s most pressing issues, including overloaded vehicles, unlicensed businesses, illegal car dealerships, and health risks posed by unsanitary conditions.
“Lawlessness has long been a persistent issue in this area.
“We have seen how these illegal activities not only harm the local economy but also pose serious risks to the safety and health of our residents. We must clamp down on these activities for the well-being of our communities,” said Breytenbach.
One of the main areas of the initiative has been addressing the surge of unlicensed car dealerships that have sprouted across the ward.
These illegal dealerships often operate without adhering to the necessary business and safety regulations.
We conducted extensive by-law compliance checks at Sinoville today. We inspected Roman’s Pizza, closed down an illegal gambling spot and a spaza shop selling rotten Goldi Chicken frozen pieces. #ReASpana @CityTshwane pic.twitter.com/bYmDQ4Qgqx
— Dr Nasiphi Moya (@nasiphim) April 4, 2025
Breytenbach said another critical issue tackled in the crackdown was businesses operating without proper licences or health inspections.
She said these businesses, which can range from informal street vendors to establishments running without necessary health clearances, often endanger public health and safety.
“We are taking a stand against all forms of lawlessness that put the safety, health and well-being of our residents at risk.
“Our residents deserve to live in a clean, compliant, and law-abiding area. This crackdown is about restoring pride in our neighbourhoods and ensuring that our community thrives.”
She said they will keep working hand-in-hand with Tshwane and TMPD to ensure that law and order are maintained.
Good morning Tshwane. We are conducting by-law enforcement in region 2 this morning. We have received several complaints about unwarranted congestion on the this particular stretch of road and we have joined TMPD to enforce compliance. @CityTshwane pic.twitter.com/VNbU1jKPiP
— Dr Nasiphi Moya (@nasiphim) April 4, 2025
Breytenbach has previously pushed for a crackdown on illegal businesses that have proliferated throughout the ward, particularly in areas like Marija and Antun streets, where unlicensed vendors are conducting operations without any regulatory oversight.
She said vagrancy in the area has been compounded by criminal behaviour, such as drug deals by individuals who pose as car guards, adding an extra layer of danger for residents and businesses alike.
This afternoon, we are in Sinoville in region 2 for ReASpana. We are conducting by-law enforcement at black market car dealerships that are scattered across this area. This particular business doesn’t have a business licence to operate as a second hand goods dealership – its… pic.twitter.com/4hc10wHhI1
— Dr Nasiphi Moya (@nasiphim) April 4, 2025
“I have proposed several community-driven solutions, including joining the CPF for real-time communication during emergencies, participating in clean-up campaigns, and reporting all incidents to law enforcement.
We cannot tackle this alone, we must stand together and fight for a better environment.”
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