Sol to go to court over illegal businesses

SOL PLAATJE Municipality said it was taking legal action through the Northern Cape High Court to demolish all illegal structures and to put an end to all illegal business activities in the city.

The spokesperson for Sol Plaatje Municipality, Sello Matsie, said yesterday that fines amounting to R1 000 would be issued for non-compliance in terms of the residential business by-laws.

He pointed out that municipal officials were not allowed to participate in drawing up contracts between foreign nationals and residents.

“If there is any proof of such wrongdoing it must be forwarded to the office of the municipal manager. Action will be taken against any official who acted out of the proximity of his/her duties and functions.”

Matsie said that they had interacted with the Hawks in July to take steps against non-compliant tuck shops.

“The Directorate for Priority Crime Prevention requested confirmation regarding the zoning status of three plots of land in Galeshewe and whether the businesses were allowed to operate in a residential area. It was established that the erven had not been granted business rights in terms of consent or rezoning by Sol Plaatje Municipality.” He added that the affected properties were issued with letters of non-compliance as well as fines amounting to R1 000.

“In line with the outcome of the investigation by the Directorate for Priority Crime Prevention, dated August 2018, Sol Plaatje Municipality embarked on a legal process to demolish all the illegal structures and also to cease all illegal uses occurring on the property by virtue of ongoing court processes.

“The process will be similar to that of 11 Cape Town Road in Beaconsfield wherein the municipality applied to court for demolishing of illegal structures and also to cease the illegal use and the court ordered in favour of the municipality.”

Matsie indicated that they had shut down tuck shops that had illegal electricity connections.

“We support any initiative to enforce the law but this must be done within the legal framework where any confiscation is done in a controlled manner. Any consumables that are not fit for human consumption must also be disposed of in the proper manner.”