Being a homeowner means you have the liberty to do as you please on your property – within reason. The occasional smoke from a braai is quite acceptable but burning wood or rubbish on your property could land you in hot water.
Ruimsig resident Mary Martin said her neighbours have been burning refuse on their properties for any years. “There is an open pathway between me and my neighbour behind my house, and when they make a fire the smoke comes into my house. My next-door neighbour has done the same thing a couple of times and I have tried to speak to her about it, but it’s still happening. Sometimes you just see the smoke but you are not sure where it is coming from. I know I am not the only person concerned about this.”
According to the City of Joburg Metropolitan Municipality by-laws, no one is allowed to make a fire that may endanger another person, animal or property. This includes burning refuse or combustible material without the written permission of the Chief Fire Officer, or unless the materials are burnt in an approved incinerating device.
Joburg EMS media liaison, Nana Radebe said the City’s by-laws were very clear on the illegality of starting a fire or burning materials. The prohibition does not apply to fires made in approved and purpose-made stoves, fireplaces or hearths that form an integrated part of a building or structure. This extends to preparing food on private premises set aside for that purpose. The prohibitions also don’t apply to any device for preparing food which is heated by electricity or gas, and is so positioned that the fire does not endanger any person, animal or property.
Failure to comply with these by-laws would result in a fine or imprisonment of no longer than six months. Should the offence be committed again, a further fine would be issued or the offender could be imprisoned for no longer than one day, for every day during which the offence is committed.
