Page 4 People’s Post Lansdowne
NEWS
Tuesday 19 July 2011
Illegal roadhouse leaves locals fuming TAMMY PETERSEN
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FAST FOOD business started without authorisation in a quiet corner of Lansdowne is facing legal action after council officials served notices on the owner of the Groenvlei house. The roadhouse was built in November last year, and comprises the side of the property facing Lansdowne Road. The house is situated at the corner of Cotte Road and the business operates under the name “Family Roadhouse”. Resident Wayne Arendse says he is “tired” of the noise emanating from the property on week nights, and especially over weekends, when the take away business is at its busiest. “They are operating without authorisation and with no thought for what their neighbours are going through. This is a quiet, residential area that is now inconvenienced with things like peak hour traffic, noise and heavy vehicles off-loading stock every second evening.” Arendse also informed the council of the illegal business and is highly dissatisfied that
after months of complaints, the roadhouse is still operating. When People’s Post visited the business recently, five cars were on the premises, parked on council-owned land that had been paved. The “parking area” also creates illegal access onto Lansdowne Road. Another resident, who would like to remain anonymous, says the road has become a “hive of activity” and is causing a “disturbance to the peace”. “Everything used to be quiet here but now it’s like living next to McDonalds. There are always cars driving up and down this road. It was inconsiderate of them to put up such a business without consulting with the people who live here.” But the owner, Nabeel Qaifar, says he is “only trying to make an honest living”. “All my other neighbours don’t have a problem with what I am doing. I close at 22:00 or even 21:30 so that I don’t bother the neighbours. I’m not selling liquor or drugs, only food,” he says. Cheryl Walters, the City of Cape Town’s director for Planning and Building Development Management, says no land use or building development application has been submitted by the property owner, and the erf is currently zoned as “single residential purpose”. “A case file was opened and an investiga-
UNWELCOME: The Family Roadhouse is operating illegally and has proven to be a thorn in local residents’ side. Photo: Tammy Petersen tion was launched in January this year. A notice was issued on 7 February to cease the activity within 30 days,” Walters explains. “The owner did not comply, and the land use docket was submitted to the legal processing office on 18 March requesting that a summons be served. The Roads and Stormwater department, as well as the Health department were informed of the unauthorised activity and were requested to investigate and take action in terms of legislation that governs access to public main roads and business licences.” She continues that no permission was requested to build the roadhouse, and the alterations are unauthorised. “The Building Inspector served a notice on 6 December for an unauthorised verandah and internal alterations, which expired on 2 February this year. “The second notice was served on 10 February and expired on 17 March for the change in use of the building from residential to a business, which is in conflict with the approved building plan. “The owner failed to comply with both notices.” The paved section next to Lansdowne Road is a public open space, says Henry du Plessis, the City’s director for Roads and Stormwater. “The department is in the
process of issuing a notice to the owners for transgressing the Roads Ordinance No. 19 of 1976/18, in terms of access to and exit from certain public roads and public paths by accessing a Public Main Road,” he says. Dr Ivan Bromfield, the executive director for City Health confirms that environmental health inspectors conducted inspections at the site, which revealed that the owner is trading without a business licence. He says that a notice was served on 10 may this year requesting the owner to apply for a licence and to obtain zoning clearance to conduct the activity. Walters adds that the Enforcement Section of Planning and Building Development Management Department investigates by determining whether an activity has been approved or not. “Once it has been established that it is unauthorised, a notice is served on the owner to cease the operation within 30 days and sooner if the infringement is extreme. Once the notice has expired and the owner has not complied, the inspector will prepare the legal docket for submission to the legal processing office in order to request that a summons be served.” Qaifar says he is currently compiling his applications so that he can “follow procedure” and gain permission to continue to run his business.
Seeking star quality THE Eoan Group School of Performing Arts will be launching a professional company offering employment to classical and contemporary-trained dancers. The second round of auditions will take place on Saturday 23 July at the Joseph Stone Auditorium in Athlone. Everyone
is welcome. Successful candidates are to be available to commence employment in August. For more information, contact the Eoan Group on (021) 637-1268, or alternatively call the principal, Abeedah Medell, on 083 496 3718.
Three-day SPCA book sale THE SPCA is having three-day book sale at Canal Walk. Quality books at bargain prices is what the SPCA promises for shoppers at their three-day charity book sale at Canal Walk Shopping Centre, Entrance 8 on the mezzanine floor level, from Friday 29 July to Sunday 31 July from 09:00 to 18:00.
The large book sale will offer a wide selection of fiction and non-fiction titles, children’s, art, history and general interest books. For more information, call the SPCA’s book sale coordinator, Natasha Johannes, on (021) 700-4155/40 or email awareness@spca-ct.co.za.
Blisters for bread fun walk THE annual Blisters for Bread Family Fun Walk is happening on Sunday 28 August. The walk has become one of the highlights on the Cape Town calendar, attracting thousands of walkers in support of combating hunger in school learners. Each walker participating will feed 16 children through their R30 entry fee.
Enter online at www.psfa.org.za. The event starts and ends at Green Point Cricket Club, and there are three walking distances: 5km, 10km and 18km. The closing date for individual entries is 14 August and for group entries 7 August. For inquiries about the event, call (021) 5117130.