A recent law enforcement operation led by the Executive Mayor of Tshwane, Dr Nasiphi Moya, has sparked mixed reactions among residents in Mamelodi following the shutdown of several illegal businesses.
The operation, carried out under the #ReASpana campaign, targeted non-compliant shops in Mahube Valley. Officials shut down a spaza shop that had been illegally built on top of a municipal sewer line. Authorities discovered that all trading certificates at the site were fraudulent, leading to the immediate closure of the business and removal of its signage.
In a separate incident, a Cash & Carry store in the same area was also forced to close after officials uncovered multiple violations. These included fake food and fire compliance certificates, operating without a valid trading licence, and constructing an illegal structure. The business was further found to have damaged municipal infrastructure through an unauthorised water connection. Electricity and water supplies were disconnected on-site.
City officials say the operation forms part of a broader effort to enforce municipal bylaws, protect infrastructure, and ensure fair and lawful business practices.
However, the crackdown has drawn varied responses from the local community. One Mahube Valley resident, Thabiso Mokoena, welcomed the move, saying, “Illegal businesses put everyone at risk, especially when they interfere with essential services like water and sanitation. The municipality is doing the right thing.”
Another resident, Nomsa Dlamini, expressed her concern, stating, “it is so frustrating to see shops operating without proper documents, if something goes wrong who takes responsibility?”.
Mayor Nasiphi Moya said the #ReASpana operation in Mahube Valley marks a shift toward stricter enforcement of by-law compliance in Tshwane. She stated that businesses operating with fraudulent documentation and illegal structures affecting public infrastructure would face immediate closure. According to the Mayor, the operation forms part of ongoing compliance inspections, with further inspections expected in the coming weeks.
