Law Enforcement Unit Target Illegal Advertisers and Abandoned Vehicles

"We have noticed a proliferation of advertisements on A-Frame trailers for which the owners have not obtained the necessary permits," says Arendse. "In accordance with the Advertising and Signage By-law, all advertisers utilising A-Frame trailers must obtain the necessary permit from the City's Environmental Resource Management Department. We recently confiscated 10 trailers which did not display advertising permits and the owners have had to pay fines of up to R3000 plus added costs based on the size of signage in order to recover their impounded vehicles rather than the alternative which was having the vehicles auctioned. The Department has acquired a special truck to facilitate the confiscation of these trailer.

"Another concern is the extent to which the city's pavements are being cluttered with furniture for sale outside business premises. Such businesses run the very real risk of having their furniture confiscated if they do not acquire the necessary permits."

"Trading with liquor in a residential area is illegal according to the Land Use By-law of the City of Cape Town. This by-law is being enforced by the Specialised Law Enforcement Services Department's Liquor Enforcement & Compliance Unit. The Unit recently had to warn 11 householders including one in a dwelling rented from the City's Housing Department, about selling liquor from their homes. In another case, a husband and wife from Eerste River were fined R10 000 each and received a one year imprisonment sentence, suspended for five years and were instructed to close down the business", Arendse said.

The Land Use and Planning Ordinance 15/1985 section 39(2) (b) read with Section 46 states: Land can only be utilized for the purpose it has been approved by Council (Paraphrased). In light of this, areas that have been approved for residential premises are to be solely utilized for this purpose.

"Individuals making themselves guilty of contravening this ordinance could face a hefty R1000 fine and habitual offenders will be brought before a court where heavier fines and imprisonment could be imposed.

"The only instance where such an activity as the selling of liquor from residential premises could be legal is, when a special Land Use Departure was issued. This approval is however only given under the strictest and most merited conditions of which the Land Use Section has the criteria. Therefore, businesses operating such activities from residential premises without a special Land Use Departure approval can expect to be the subject of clean-up operations in this regard," he said.

"The Specialised Law Enforcement Services Department is continuing this week with its operation geared towards removing sex workers from the city's streets. Last week saw multiple fines issued in this regard.

"This week the Department in conjunction with Traffic Services will also focus on vehicles abandoned along the freeways and major suburban arterials. They will be impounded and owners will have to pay hefty release fines to obtain their vehicles. If the vehicles are not retrieved, they will be sold on auction. The operation will also target vehicles parked on sidewalks in residential areas that can be seen as wrecks being used for spare parts," he added.

Issued by:
Communication Department
City of Cape Town