PMB business owners threaten to stop paying rates

Business owners on Hoosen Haffajee Street in PMB say they will stop paying their rates if their issues on the street are not resolved.

After a building on Hoosen Haffajee was burnt down by whoonga addicts this week, business owners have signed a petition, saying enough is enough.

Chadaya Odayan from General Spray Painters and Motor Repairs said he was woken up by an early phone call from someone who was on the street telling him his shop was on fire.

Odayan said when his son came down to check, it was actually their neighbour’s shop that was on fire.

He said the chaos on the street has made it impossible to run businesses.

The man said there is rubbish scattered all over the streets, the storm drainages are all blocked and now they have the whoonga addicts running wild.

Another business owner on the street, Naeem Haniff said Hoosen Haffajee Street has become a health hazard for him, his customers and staff.

Another business owner on the street said they witness daily how people get mugged and assaulted by the addicts and that the police have no concern as there is no proper directive from the municipality.

While whoonga addicts are one of the issues listed on the petition, illegal trading is the second and traffic congestion due to businesses operating on the pavements.