They peed, fixed cars, washed taxis and hung laundry on balconies. Durbanites, it seems, are not too worried about a by-law that could see them face a R40 000 fine.
|||Durban - They peed, fixed cars, washed taxis and hung their clothing out on balconies.
Durbanites, it appeared, were unperturbed by eThekwini Municipality’s drastic new by-laws that call for an end to “nuisance” behaviour – a contravention of which could lead to a fine of up to a R40 000.
The municipality’s “Nuisances and Behaviour in Public Places” by-law, which came into effect on Friday, made no difference to people who continued with “nuisance” behaviour.
The city urged residents late last year to be “on their best behaviour” after the promulgation of the by-laws, which the city aims to use to clamp down on wayward behaviour.
Some of the by laws include: No urinating in public, no hanging of clothes on fences, walls, balconies and verandas, no littering and no washing or repairing vehicles in public spaces.
The Independent on Saturday asked the city’s permission to witness the metro police’s enforcement of the laws, but was told by senior media liaison officer Gugu Sisilana that: “Unfortunately, due to the nature of the work, we cannot arrange or allow for you to go out with metro police during the enforcement.”
The city said last year that abusive, threatening or foul language or gestures would not be tolerated in public spaces, along with fighting, urinating or defecating in public. People would also not be allowed to bath or wash in public unless it was part of a religious or cultural ceremony and permission had been sought. Any person caught spitting, performing a sexual act, appearing in the nude or exposing genitalia would also face prosecution.
When The Independent on Saturday drove around the city on Friday, the by-laws were clearly being contravened.
Taxis were being washed on the roadside, cars were being repaired by people in the face of moving traffic, people were urinating and litter was evident.
Boom controls have also been placed in and around the beachfront for the long Easter break to control the numbers of vehicles entering.
The by-laws also forbid the consumption of liquor, being drunk in public, gambling and the use of drugs in public.
The city also does not want people to lie down or sleep on any bench, street or pavement in a manner that prevents other people from using it. But it was evident on Friday that the message had not filtered down to the public.
Begging for money or goods with gestures or words was also banned, said the city.
Independent on Saturday
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