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Townships: Subsidiary Legislation - Sowa Township Authority General Byelaws

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19.     Accumulation of inflammable or combustible materials

            (1) The owner or occupier of any lot or premises shall take every reasonable precaution to prevent the accumulation or deposit of straw, wood, paper or other inflammable or combustible material on the lot or premises which could cause damage or danger from fire to any person, animal or building or to any adjacent property.

            (2) Where, in the opinion of the Authority an owner or occupier has allowed the accumulation of deposit of straw, wood, paper or other inflammable or combustible material on his or her lot or premises, the Authority may, by notice in writing to such owner or occupier, order the occupier or owner to remove such accumulation within a period of not less than three days, which period shall be stipulated in such notice, and it shall thereupon be the duty of the owner or occupier to do so.

            (3) A person who accumulates inflammable or combustible materials on his or her property commits an offence and is liable to a fine of P500 or in default of payment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months.

20.     Grass, rushes or reed fences

            (1) If, in the opinion of the Authority, any fence of grass, rushes or reeds is erected in such a position or is allowed to fall into such a state of disrepair that it gives rise to a danger of fire spreading therefrom to any buildings, the Authority may, by notice in writing, order the fence to be removed and the owner, or in his or her absence, the occupier of the premises upon which the fence is situated, shall remove the fence.

            (2) A person who contravenes this bye-law commits an offence and is liable to a fine of P100 or in default of payment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two weeks.

21.     Storing of inflammable, combustible or explosive substances

            (1) A person shall not, without the written permission of the Authority, store any inflammable, combustible or explosive substance on any premises.

            (2) Subbye-law (1) shall not apply to-

     (a)     petrol, paraffin, methylated spirits or other such inflammable substance which is used for household purposes of not more than a total of 22.73 litres stored in a closed-top container or other approved receptacle at a person's place of residence or place of business;

     (b)     fuel contained in the fuel tank of any motor vehicle;

     (c)     liquor which a person may store at his or her place of residence or business;

     (d)     petrol, paraffin, methylated spirits, oil, or other such inflammable substance which is stored at a garage, service station or petrol filling station.

            (3) In granting permission in terms of subbye-law (1) the Authority may impose such conditions as it considers necessary.

            (4) A person who contravenes subbye-law (1) commits an offence and is liable to a fine of P250 or in default of payment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months.

22.     Burning of grass, refuse or rubbish

            (1) A person shall not burn or set fire to any grass, refuse, rubbish or other material on any private property unless the person-

     (a)     is the owner of the property or has the permission of the owner or occupier of the property;

     (b)     takes every reasonable precaution to avoid any annoyance to owners or occupiers of adjoining properties; and

     (c)     ensures that no buildings are endangered by the burning of such grass, refuse, rubbish or other material.

            (2) A person who contravenes this bye-law commits an offence and is liable to a fine of P500 or in default of payment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months.

23.     Fire-fighting appliances in public buildings

            (1) The owner of any hall, shop, offices or other building to which the public has access shall, if required by the Authority, provide such building with portable fire extinguishers at the rate of one fire extinguisher for every 232.25 square metres or part thereof.

            (2) The owner of any such building shall fix any extinguisher which he or she is required to provide in a conspicuous and easily accessible position and shall maintain the extinguisher in good working order.

            (3) A person who contravenes this bye-law commits an offence and is liable to a fine of P500 or in default of payment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months.

24.     Attendance of fire brigade at fires

            (1) In the event of a fire brigade attending upon any fire within the township, the officer in charge of the fire brigade party shall have full control over the property on fire and over such other property as he or she may consider to be in danger for the purposes of taking such reasonable measures as he or she may consider necessary to prevent the spread of and to extinguish the fire.

            (2) In exercising his or her powers under subbye-law (1), the officer in charge of the fire brigade-

     (a)     shall have the right of entry to any property and may by himself or herself or through any person under his or her control break into, through, take possession of, or pull down buildings, but shall take every reasonable care to do as little damage as possible;

     (b)     shall have the right of access to any hydrant, pipe, cistern, borehole or otherwater supply and shall be entitled to other water supply and to draw water from such points of supply;

     (c)     may himself or herself, or through any person under his or her control, divert, stop or regulate traffic in the vicinity of the fire; and

     (d)     may temporarily close any street, passage, thoroughfare or greenway in the vicinity of the fire.