Letter: Town planning violators – expect a fight
In tackling some of the many town planning violations taking place in the Inner West I have been accused of, amongst others, racism and Islamophobia. The truth is that the people being targetted are selected on the basis of their disregard for the law and I can assure you that every grouping in South Africa is well represented in this regard.
The violations in question include an illegal recruitment office with illegal extensions, an illegal mosque with illegal building alterations, the notorious brothels, panel beaters operating in residential areas and illegal car sales. I consider these to be serious violations which must be dealt with strictly in order to avoid what are perceived as minor indiscretions becoming part of a greater culture of lawlessness.
Property owners have been required in the past to break down structures for which there is no building approval and to close down or move businesses for which they have no zoning rights.
I would like to assure all people running illegal businesses and other disruptive activities from their homes, and those engaging in illegal building and alterations that we will catch you and you will be penalised.