Following the recent series of by-law operations in the west of Pretoria, one restaurant owner was arrested for illegally connecting previously disconnected power.

The Bad Buildings Mayoral Sub-committee has come down hard on Pretoria West, alleging that the area is a hive of lawlessness.

Committee chairperson and MMC for Corporate and Shared Services, Kholofelo Morodi, has been leading the efforts on the ground, issuing notices, fines, and disconnecting illegal connections.

Luttig Street has been a particular recurring location of the committee’s work, as the same restaurant that reconnected the disconnected power supply is located there.

Morodi said that on top of the illegal connection, stolen municipal cables were recovered from the property.

“The owner has been arrested for reopening the establishment after it was shut down and for tampering with municipal property. He was also found in possession of municipal cables. We warned him yesterday, yet he undermined our authority. Such acts of defiance will not be taken lightly. Let this be a warning,” she said.

The MMC added that theft of municipal property will not be overlooked or tolerated, and hopes that this action sends a clear message that there is no room for lawlessness in communities.

The restaurant had been unlawfully sublet from neighbouring properties.

Another property that had been served with a contravention notice for illegal structures, and which currently owes the city R42 000 in fines from previous raids, was also revisited by the committee.

During this inspection, unlawfully constructed buildings were found, and the occupants were found not to be paying for municipal services. The water supply was disconnected. However, as with the restaurant, the property’s reconnection was discovered during the follow-up.

“Another act of defiance. This property tampered with municipal infrastructure in clear violation of the law. We have a lot of energy and will continue with disconnections and enforcement actions until order is restored and compliance with the law is upheld,” Morodi said.

Watch here: https://x.com/i/status/2024044102690512921.

As promised, we have returned to Maqayada Restaurant on Luttig Street, where the owner has been arrested for reopening the establishment after it was shut down and for tampering with municipal property.

He was also found in possession of municipal cables.

We warned him… pic.twitter.com/JNFdBrRlt4

— Kholofelo Morodi (@kholofeloMorodi) February 18, 2026

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