The Democratic Alliance Constituency Head for Phoenix, Verulam and Tongaat, MPL Bradley Singh, has called on the eThekwini Municipality to implement the Nuisance and Public Behaviour By-law after a provincial government vehicle was seen being serviced at a bush-mechanic on Cardham Drive in Brookdale, Phoenix
Singh said eThekwini must act and fine the relevant government department that the vehicle is assigned to and close down the illegal panel beating shop for operating in a residential area. He said the sighting of the provincial government vehicle at an illegal panel beating shop was a blatant disregard for municipal by-laws.
“What is even more shocking is that these panel beaters are doing this brazenly on council owned land, which they have also illegally occupied. What example is being set by the province for the people of eThekwini? This is a fine example of how things go wrong in this city. According to the municipality by-law, spray painting in a residential area is a health hazard. Under the scheduled activities by-laws it prohibits carrying out of spray painting without a permit and if one is doing so he or she is committing an offence,” added Singh.
Singh said the DA will make sure that this issue of illegal panel beating of provincial vehicles is not just swept under the carpet as the responsible MEC must be held accountable and officials must face consequences.
He said: “We are writing to the MEC of Transport to confirm which department that the vehicle belongs to and why the vehicle was being repaired there. These are government vehicles and not privately owned, there are certain processes and procedures that must be followed before a contractor can be given work. But what has transpired here is someone with no experience or proper licensing has been repairing a government vehicle on municipal land.”
The eThekwini Municipality had yet to comment by the time of print.
