The Department of Development Planning Single Law Enforcement (SLE) Unit, together with the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) carried out demolitions of 4 unoccupied illegally built brick and mortar structures and 1 informal structure in the Region C area. The land that the structures were built on was never allocated and is illegally invaded.

For the month of May 2022, the Department recorded 146 land use contraventions across the city.

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MMC for Development Planning, Cllr Belinda Echeozonjoku said such operations were important if the city is to fight lawlessness. She went on to state that the Department will be getting more manpower to deal with contraventions.

“Thanks to the added budget that the Department will be getting, we will be recruiting extra Building Development Management (BDM) inspectors to investigate construction sites and buildings across the city. Almost R6 million has been set aside for additional Single Law Enforcement inspectors and administrators – this will increase the capacity of planning law enforcement to investigate contraventions across the City," said Cllr Echeozonjoku

The city would like to remind the public that the use of land in contravention of the scheme and other building regulations which include alterations and/or building without approved plans will not be tolerated and warrants action from the city.

Any person/owner who contravenes legislation will be issued with a notice informing them of their contravention. Should the person not comply, the matter will be referred to the appointed Council Attorneys, who will initiate litigation processes against the contravening party. Ultimately the City will execute the land use/ demolition court orders after they have been issued by the courts.

Cllr Echeozonjoku repeated the City's commitment to building a 'safe and secure city' and added that the Department is open and willing to assist members of the public who require information on how to comply.

Members of the public can report any land use contraventions to the following email addresses:

• REGION A: COMPLAINTSLEREGIONA@JOBURG.ORG.ZA
• REGION B: COMPLAINTSLEREGIONB@JOBURG.ORG.ZA
• REGION C: COMPLAINTSLEREGIONC@JOBURG.ORG.ZA
• REGION D: COMPLAINTSLEREGIOND@JOBURG.ORG.ZA
• REGION E: COMPLAINTSLEREGIONE@JOBURG.ORG.ZA
• REGION F: COMPLAINTSLEREGIONF@JOBURG.ORG.ZA
• REGION G: COMPLAINTSLEREGIONG@JOBURG.ORG.ZA

Ends

Media enquiries:

Loyiso Tunce
Deputy Director: Communications and Stakeholder Management
Development Planning
LoyisoTu@joburg.org.za
060 567 2483/071 936 2274

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