A well-known Randburg gym has been shut down by the City of Johannesburg after officials alleged it had been operating on municipal land without a valid lease agreement, and had not paid for services for almost a decade.
Body Conscious Gym at the Randburg Sports Complex was closed during a multi-department enforcement operation this week.
City officials said the business was occupying a city-owned property unlawfully and would remain shut until compliance issues had been resolved.
The operation formed part of a broader crackdown on illegal occupation in the area, unpaid accounts and by-law breaches in one of Johannesburg’s busiest commercial hubs.
‘Last payment for municipal services was in 2017’
According to the City, the gym was found to be operating “without valid lease agreements on City-owned property.”
“The owners are now required to urgently come forward and engage the City to rectify various outstanding issues associated with expired leases and unauthorised occupation of municipal property,” the City said in a statement.
According to the Randburg Sun, City representatives also claimed that the property had racked up years of unpaid utility charges.
Citizen Relationship and Urban Management Regional Director Sello Lemao said the last recorded payment for services at the site was made in 2017.
The publication also reported that officials had accused occupants of deliberately reconnecting water and electricity after previous municipal cut-offs.
“He does not pay even a cent to the city,” Lemao told reporters. “They continued to reconnect themselves, which is a crime.”
City of Johannesburg Deputy Mayor, Loyiso Masuku, who was also part of the operation, noted how illegal connections are a major loss of revenue for the City.
“Illegal electricity connections can lead to grid overload that causes power outages,” Masuku added.
Randburg gym closure part of wider clampdown
The City said the shutdown was one of the most significant outcomes of its latest Randburg operation.
Officials described Randburg as “one of the City’s most strategic economic nodes.”
“We are sending a clear message that non-compliance, neglect, and unlawful occupation of municipal assets will no longer be tolerated,” the City added.
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