Cops ruin duo's fruit & veg stall
FINES: Shafiek and Nadia Dreyer FINES: Shafiek and Nadia Dreyer
A couple from Athlone, who sell fruit and vegetables, say their business has gone bust after Law Enforcement demolished their stall.
This after residents complained about Nadia and Shafiek Dreyer’s “illegal structure” on the corner of Petunia and Lourie Road in Bridgetown.
Shafiek admits that there was a dispute, but claims he obtained a legal permit from the City to trade.
“We have a concession letter from the City that I renew every six months. When we were issued with the permit, they never stipulated ‘no structure’. It stipulated ‘no overnighting’, that’s why we disputed it,” he says.
Shafiek also claims the City didn’t notify them of their plans to remove the structure, which was made of a wood frame with steel roof and walls.
“When Law Enforcement arrived here the first time, we lodged it with the City’s legal department and awaited a response from the City on whether we should remove our structure.
“No one came back to us. Instead, we were issued a fine from Law Enforcement that is due 12 August.”
The trader says his stall was broken down before the due date of the fine.
“Law Enforcement came before that date with a truck and broke down the structure. After they broke down the structure, they issued me with a R1600 impoundment slip and another R500 fine. I am due to appear in court on 12 August,” says Shafiek.
Nadia says they’ve lost a large portion of their income.
BUST: Couple's fruit & veg stand in Bridgetown
“Especially now, during winter, it rains and we cannot set up and keep the same amount of stock as we did before. We have suffered great financial loss and we’ll struggle to pay rent,” she says.
Wayne Dyason, spokesperson for Law Enforcement, says the structure was illegal.
“The site where the trader is conducting business from is not zoned for informal trading. The structure erected is also illegal because it is of a permanent nature. There have been a number of complaints against this structure by people in the neighbourhood,” he says.
“The alleged offender was given warnings to comply. The structure is illegal.”