Adult shop not good for pupils
MORNINGSIDE - Residents have expressed their discontent about the operation of an adult shop near Redhill School.
One of the concerned residents, Jaco Jonker who has two children attending the school, is most concerned by the removal of guardrails from the pavement outside the adult shop.
“The owners have removed the barriers and decided to build parking bays,” he said. Jonker said when customers of the shop parked in the alleged parking bays, they completely blocked the walkway which school pupils used to access the school and the sports ground. “Children now have to walk in the busy street as a result of this matter,” added Jonker.
Another complainant, Helena Zagaretos, commented on the Sandton Chronicle Facebook page saying, “It’s unacceptable that children have to walk on the road to avoid cars parked outside a business in a residential area.”
Nirvana Rogers, marketing officer at Redhill School said the school had also voiced its concerns about the store’s location and whether it was granted permission to operate there.
“While we do not deny anyone the right to make a living, we do not consider the establishment of such an enterprise in close proximity to the school to be appropriate, ” she said. “Neither does the school condone the removal of the road barrier … to facilitate Lola Montez [the adult shop] client parking without any form of consultation,” she said.
Rogers added that the school’s main concern was having the store exposed to pupils, as pupils between the ages of three to 18 years attended the school, and pupils from other schools visited when participating in sports events.
She said the school sought assistance from Ward 103 councillor, Vincent Earp to lodge a formal objection with the local authority, and to confirm if permission was granted in establishing the business and the removal of the guardrails.
The owner of the adult shop, Sharon Gordon responded to the complainants and said there had not been any infringement of the law.
“I’m not doing anything illegal,” she said. “I own a respectable adult shop and I am allowed to operate from here, this is my home.”
Regarding the removal of the guard rails next to the shop, Gordon said she had received permission to extend her driveway from the Johannesburg Roads Planning Department, and that the municipality and the building inspector had given her the go ahead.
“All I am doing is extending my driveway,” said Gordon. “The guardrails have gone down for the extension of my driveway, not to make pavement parking for my clients.”
Gordon added that the parking situation outside of her home also concerned her as she did not want to put the pupils at risk. She said she was also trying to alleviate the unfortunate situation by extending her driveway so that her clients could park inside.
“The construction of my driveway has started and hopefully by the end of March the garaging should be structured,” she explained.
Earp confirmed being aware of residents’ complaints and said the matter had been reported to Urban Management and Building Control at Region E, to determine what violations took place, and to serve notice on the owners where necessary.
“It has also been reported to Johannesburg Roads Agency as they have removed the Armco barrier allegedly without permission, and provided parking on the pavement thereby preventing school learners from using the pathway,” Earp said.
He added that the agency was busy investigating the matter.
The city council said a complaint had been registered with the law enforcement unit regarding the illegal use of the site as an adult entertainment shop.
“A law enforcement officer will be doing a site inspection to determine the nature of the illegal use, and will issue the necessary notice for the contravention,” said Nthatise Modingoane, spokesperson for the City of Johannesburg.
He added that thus far, the information obtained indicated that the site was zoned Residential 3, which did not allow for any form of business or shops.
Tell the Sandton Chronicle if you think the residential adult shop in Morningside is cause for concern for the pupils of Redhill School. Leave a comment in the section below, or tweet us @Sandton_News
