City of Tshwane Bad Building committee at the illegal structures in Pretoria West photos supplied
By Cllr Kholofelo Morodi
MMC for Corporate and Shared Services
The Bad Buildings operations have unveiled a staggering number of illegal informal settlements throughout Pretoria West.
We have observed that many of these settlements are disguised as spaza shops and small businesses, which are also operating under incorrect zoning.
During our weekly operations, we discovered informal settlements established behind these stores, which were being used as fronts for illegal activities.
Among these was a spaza shop at 174 Luttig Street, which owes the City approximately R38 000 for water and was found to have illegal water and electricity connections.
Their power has been disconnected and the business shut down with immediate effect.
However, the most alarming discovery on this property was an informal settlement that owes the City R4.3 million.
Adjacent to this, we inspected a property zoned for residential use that was operating as a spaza shop with multiple rooms being rented out.
We found abandoned vehicles on the
premises and an illegal electricity connection.
Additionally, we discovered and disconnected a bridged water connection.
This culture of lawlessness does not end there.
We found that many of these properties were bridging electricity directly from the main power lines.
This act is not only dangerous but also unfair to paying residents, placing unnecessary strain on our infrastructure.
Operation impact:
•9 formal notices issued
•4 by building control for illegal buildings and structures
•3 by municipal health for health violations
The tragedy is that this is not a unique story within Pretoria West or other areas of the City; it has become a common and disturbing trend that stifles economic growth and hinders our ability to redevelop.
Therefore, it is crucial that operations like Bad Buildings continue to actively reclaim our city from the lawlessness and disorder that have begun to characterize it.
By-law enforcement is about protecting our communities, ensuring safety, and upholding the fair and lawful use of property.
We will continue to take action against non-compliance to restore the dignity of our beautiful capital city.
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