POLOKWANE – Illegal car wash operators blockaded the streets, burned municipal waste bins and threw paving bricks at municipal community safety and traffic officials in some parts of the city’s central business district (CBD) on Friday morning.
Tidimalo Chuene, municipal spokesperson, said illegal car wash operators were angry after the municipality implemented a decision to stop illegal car wash activities in the parking areas around the Shoprite Lane Shopping Centre.
Muni is stealing from our families
The car wash operators claim the municipality is “stealing from their families” by stopping their car wash businesses.
“There is no work for us and we are washing cars to support our families. Now the municipality is stopping us from working, how are we supposed to feed our children and clothe them? They promised to give us a place to wash cars, but they never did.
“Yes, we are angry and frustrated, because what must we now do for money? At least we are working and not stealing to support our families,” one car wash operator said, who echoed the feelings of his colleagues.
Car wash project abandoned
The protest came as the Polokwane Municipality abandoned a car wash project in 2011 after spending millions on it. The project was earmarked to be a job creation project and to curb the problem of independent car washers who were using municipal water illegally to wash cars on the streets and in parking areas of the CBD.
According to Chuene the municipality has long started the process of trying to regularise illegal car washes within the city.
“Engagements are continuing with the affected parties including business representatives of the shopping centre. The municipality remains committed to creating and sustaining economic development initiatives within the informal sector – this spirit drives all our engagements.
“A final process outline of how the matter will be handled going forward will be unveiled as soon as most pertinent issues have been satisfied with all the concerned groups,” Chuene added.
Read more:
Is car wash cash down the drain?
