Residents accused of operating an illegal car workshop in the middle of Suikerbekkie Street, Bromhof, on Sundays are apparently not guilty of this.
It was previously reported (Randburg Sun ‘Mechanics’ dodge police), that resident Amy Driessel alleged that residents of a certain complex repair vehicles in the middle of the street on Sundays, and operate an illegal car workshop. It was also reported that Metro Police unsuccessfully tried to investigate the matter on 10 August.
In response, resident Stephanie Pillay said that her husband Thomas was in the photo used in the article, which was taken by Driessel, and they do not operate an illegal car workshop: Thomas was merely repairing Stephanie’s father’s vehicle.
“They began working on the vehicle… outside the complex where we reside as this was the allocated area given to all residents/tenants should they want to attend to their vehicles (wash or repair) to avoid any unnecessary blocking of parking bays inside the complex,” she said.
Caretaker of the complex Lana Constanti confirmed that the residents are not operating an illegal car workshop.
“It is not true that the tenants of this complex are operating a ‘car workshop’ and they are not receiving money to repair other people’s car[s],” Constanti said. “They are working on their own cars outside and have their friends around when doing so.”
However, Constanti stated that permission to work on vehicles in the street was never granted.
“Our guards have told them to refrain from fixing their cars outside the complex too, and they have ignored the request. I would never say residents can wash/fix their cars outside as this contravenes the bylaws.”
Metro Police spokesperson Wayne Minnaar said that Metro Police acting deputy Director Mike Smith will investigate the issue and “take appropriate action if necessary.”
Metro Police Officer Lorraine Mathila holds that she and three other officers investigated the scene on 10 August, despite Stephanie Pillay’s claim that no police investigated the “entire day”.
Pillay also claimed that the vehicle broke down on 9 August, when the photo of her husband repairing it was allegedly taken on 3 August, and the Randburg Sun received it on 4 August.
Details: Metro Police 011 375 5911.
