The JMPD has intensified its crackdown on public urination, warning residents and visitors that offenders face immediate enforcement action under City of Johannesburg municipal by-laws.

According to the South African Government News Agency, the department issued the warning as part of ongoing efforts to improve public cleanliness, safety and urban management across Johannesburg.

JMPD said that urinating in public places, including streets, pavements, alleys, public squares, and municipal parks, is prohibited under several by-laws governing public roads, public health, waste management, and public open spaces.

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The department said public urination is not only an offence against public decency but also poses health risks, damages public infrastructure and contributes to environmental degradation.

JMPD confirmed that officers are actively enforcing the relevant by-laws throughout the Johannesburg CBD and surrounding municipal areas. Key public spaces and identified crime hotspots are also monitored through the city’s CCTV surveillance network to detect offences and gather evidence where necessary.

Individuals caught by JMPD officers or identified through CCTV footage may receive spot fines and, where applicable, face arrest and prosecution.

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JMPD spokesperson Superintendent Xolani Fihla said the department will continue to take a zero-tolerance approach to offences that undermine public hygiene.

“Public urination is not a minor inconvenience; it is an offence that compromises public health, degrades municipal infrastructure and undermines the dignity of our shared public spaces. The JMPD will continue to enforce the City’s by-laws without exception, and offenders should expect immediate enforcement action where violations are detected,” said Fihla.

He urged residents and visitors to use designated public ablution facilities and comply with municipal by-laws.

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“We appeal to residents and visitors alike to respect municipal by-laws by using the public ablution facilities provided throughout the city. Keeping Johannesburg clean is a shared responsibility, and compliance with these regulations benefits everyone,” he said.

The enforcement campaign forms part of the City’s broader drive to improve public order, protect municipal infrastructure and promote a cleaner, healthier urban environment.