WHILE eThekwini Municipality understands the current socio-economic environment, residents must still adhere to Municipal by-laws. The Municipality has in recent weeks been enforcing by-laws through the Mother of All Clean-ups campaign and Operation Good Hope. This has seen shop owners fined and arrested for violating health and safety compliance including operating without a business licence, unsafe and unhygienic working conditions and selling expired food among others.

However, there has been an outcry from the public as the City has been enforcing by-laws through these campaigns with the aim of safeguarding the public. Citing one example, residents were not happy about by-law enforcement conducted in uMlazi as part of Operation Good Hope. Some said the City was too harsh in issuing fines to businesses that are not complying with bylaws and requirements of running a business. By-law enforcement has been enforced in various areas of the City including Pinetown, Durban central, oThongathi, Isiphingo, Verulam, and KwaMakhutha among others.

The implementation of penalties is congruent to the violation of a by-law. Law enforcement in the inner city is a daily operation. Enforcement is conducted without bias and without checking citizenship. The Municipality has a right to enforce by-laws. Units such as the Metro Police, Fire and Emergency Services, Environmental Health, Cleansing and Solid Waste, Electricity, Water and Sanitation, Real Estate, Parks, Recreation and Culture, and Business Support have law enforcement components as part of their operations. Bylaws are meant to regulate behaviour of the public in a City and must be enforced to ensure the safety of all. Residents are advised to adhere to the City’s by-laws. When issuing fines, business owners are advised on which units to contact to secure business licences. Just recently, two stores operated by foreign nationals were forced to close shop until proper documentation is in place.