01 Feb 2017

For communities to flourish economically and socially, there must be a law in place that ensures business practices and behaviour of inhabitants are in line with the values of the society.

It is against this background that the Southern District Council recently enacted some bye-laws.

Bye-law enforcement Superintendent in the Southern District Council, Mr Tshepho Mogorosi told BOPA that local authorities are tasked with the formulation and implementation of bye-laws to regulate businesses and social activities to ensure safety standards are met as well as for quality assurance.

Mr Mogorosi said the SDC, through its bye-law enforcement office, has formulated the hawkers and street vendors’ law, as well as the noise and nuisance bye-laws.

Notwithstanding, the hawkers and street vendors bye-law was devised upon the realisation that unlicensed hawkers and street vendors were flooding the Kanye central business district, thus leaving the business centre in an unsavoury state at the close of every business day.

The noise and nuisance bye-laws were devised from the view that bars, nightclubs and some shops play loud music at awkward hours, thus law enforcement officers were overwhelmed by noise complaints.

Mr Mogorosi said license fees are a way of raising funds for the local authority to carry out their daily activities. 

He said any person who infringes noise and nuisance bye-laws is liable to a fine not exceeding P100 or in default of payment thereof, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 21 days or both.
Mr Mogorosi warned unlicensed hawkers and street vendors, noting stringent laws are in place to counteract the hitch. BOPA