The Dube Boxing Club hall was filled up with concerned residents areas this week as departments and entities of the City of Johannesburg addressed their issues, providing much-needed information and offerings by the City’s Soweto Region D. Sazi Bangani from Development Planning explained city by-laws on building or placing temporary structures like spaza shop container in residential premises. “It is important that the owner of the property should seek permission from the City for such a structure to be built on the property as there are calculations that are taken into consideration, according to measurements of the dwelling in that the size of a structure should be less than a quarter of the property.”

Encroachment of properties by neighbours also came into the discussion. “When you suspect or are convinced that your neighbour is encroaching on your property, you need to hire a land surveyor from the City at your own cost. You will then have to get a lawyer and take the matter to court for a resolution,” he said.

Councillor Phindile Simelane of Ward 38 cautioned residents that they should check with Johannesburg Property Company about the ownership of the shops they occupied as most of the shops in Soweto belonged to the City and people are unaware.  

Cllr Lefa Modise of Ward 39 highlighted the issue of illegal billboards in the area. Law enforcement officials present promise to investigate the matter and issue fines where there is transgression. 

Environmental Health official Hosea Nchabeleng explained the process in applying for shops, spaza shops and hawkers licences. He urged the community to call the city to assist them on issues with pest control on their properties to ensure good hygiene.  

He also requested the community to hire skip bins for extra household refuse they may have as opposed to dumping in the open spaces. “Residents with lots of tenants in their properties are urged to apply for a second bin from Pikitup, bearing in mind that there will be a charge for that extra bin.”

Steven Mofokeng from Emergency Management Services educated people on how to avoid getting themselves into fire without acquiring skills on fire management. “I want to encourage especially the youth in different wards to come to Dube Vocational offices for fire management training that the city offers at no cost.  

“This will help a great deal to attend to the fire whilst you are waiting for a fire engine. The city does not have enough of fire engines and this often results in the fire fighters coming late to the scene.

“Please make sure you always know where you keep the keys for burglar gates during a fire in the house.  We may break the door to force entry but with the locked burglar door, there is nothing we can do to take people outside.  After the door gets broken, oxygen comes inside the house and worsen the fire.  This is where people succumb to their burns and smoke from the fire,” said Mofokeng.  

He advised on do’s and don’ts during the fire, inviting the community to visit the city’s website for more information on the matter.

Resident Senzo Mnisi found the session very useful and informative. He was keen to register for next uptake in Fire Management training.

Written by Thembelihle Radebe

21/04/2023