Illegal land users likely to face penalties

Businesses operating from residential premises in Flora Park are likely to face harsh consequences if found not to have followed the correct rezoning procedures prescribed by Polokwane Municipality’s by-laws.
This follows a complaint received from a concerned resident who objected to the noise level produced by a manufacturing company in the area. The complainant, who spoke on a condition of anonymity, informed Polokwane Observer that the peace is disturbed by noise from the said manufacturing company, a spaza shop and a yard that has been turned into a park and sell spot. A source indicated that the manufacturing of window and door frames starts as early as 05:00 in the morning and the tools used in the process make a lot of noise.
“First it was the issue of noise caused by a group of young soccer players accommodated in one of the houses in the area. The matter was dealt with but now we are bothered by manufacturers and a large group of people visiting the spaza shop to buy samosas during lunchtime. These businesses bring a lot of new faces to the area and this threatens residents’ safety. We just can’t rest in peace. I lodged a complaint with the Polokwane Municipality a while ago and I hope something will be done because we can’t have businesses operating in a residential area. I have been staying in Flora Park since 1994 and people must just deal with the fact that this is a residential area not a business zone,” the source explained and went on to argue that such activities have a negative impact on the value of property if one decides to sell theirs. Another source insisted that the municipality must at all times ensure that by-laws are adhered to by all the residents.
Communications and Marketing Manager of the municipality, Matshidiso Mothapo cautioned that no business should operate within the residential area until it has been rezoned for business purposes. He stressed that the municipality discourages illegal land use and that those who want to operate businesses in the residential area must follow the correct procedures. Mo­thapo encouraged residents to report illegal land use for the municipality to investigate and deal with lawbreakers.
Mothapo shared a document in which the municipality, together with the South African Property Owners Association, warn residents about the rise in illegal land use. The document explains that if a person is found to be using land illegally, the municipality will issue three notices to the offender and, should the person or company fail to comply the matter would be referred to municipal attorneys to launch civil proceedings against the offender to interdict them from continuing with unauthorised use.

Story: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za