THE City of uMhlathuze is drafting a proposal to Council to formalise the operations of illegal car washers.
This follows concern raised by residents and legal business owners about the operations of informal traders, especially car washers, along Biyela Street in Empangeni.
City spokesman Vukile Mathabela said the municipality previously sent proposals to the Council to formalise the car wash industry in townships, which has been attended to.
But Mathabela says in the town it is a tricky situation.
‘In Richards Bay, for example, we have installed taps and meters so that the car washers pay for the water they use.
‘In Empangeni, however, it does not make sense to formalise this industry in an area where it is not permitted. We cannot legalise where it is not suitable,’ he added.
On Wednesday the city conducted a raid in Empangeni CBD along Maxwell and Union streets to get rid of informal traders.
‘At present we conduct regular raids in town until there is a feasible plan in place to control the informal traders,’ said Mathabela.
‘The issue of rights is tricky. We appreciate that these people are making an honest living and not resorting to crime, but as much as rights need to be exercised, it cannot be done in a manner which violates the rights of others,’ he added.
19 NOVEMBER 2013
Illegal traders the talk of the town
RESIDENTS have raised renewed concerns about illegal street traders continuing to operate within the Empangeni area.
This comes after a raid was executed by the City of uMhlathuze earlier this year targeting illegal street trading hot spots where equipment was removed and fines were issued.
But despite municipal intervention, residents say the street traders are back in business and on the road again.
uMhlathuze City Councillor Louis Fourie has raised concern regarding illegal car washers on Biyela Street, which is ‘frequently visited by people from outside the City’.
‘This definitely does not create a kind and favourable first impression of our City at all,’ said Fourie.
‘Illegal car washers and mechanics in the City have been in existence for over 13 years notwithstanding complaints regarding their operations. Nothing has to date been done from Council’s side to put a stop to this practice,’ expressed Fourie.
‘It is heartbreaking that there are entrepreneurs who follow the right paths to get their business up and running while paying business rates for taxes, water and lights. In the meantime, certain ‘entrepreneurs’ are allowed to do whatever they please and set up business along a public road on Council property while not paying for the services they use,’ he added.
uMhlathuze City spokesperson Vukile Mathabela said the municipality was concerned about this issue and the matter had been raised at Executive Committee meetings.
‘The matter of illegal traders is a concern however we continue to enforce the laws where we are able to. In Biyela street there are public toilets which the City erected as it is adjacent to a taxi rank however, we intend to shut down those toilets because that is where the car washers get their water supply, resulting in water losses as well as wasteful expenditure,’ said Mathebela.
‘It is a process to resolve these issues and we need to work toward a solution, which will accommodate everyone. We must create a win-win situation and strike a balance between adhering to City bylaws and enforcing job creation,’ added Mathabela.
However, some residents are not entirely in cahoots with the issue at hand.
‘The street traders are only making an honest living. By the City shutting them down, this could lead to an increase in crime,’ added an Empangeni resident.
This decision of chasing illegal car washers is inapropriate. Most guys who wash cars at Biyela center were criminals due to poverty they used to suffer from, but they later chose to wash cars instad of stilling and robbing people their bilongings. The municipality should not just chase them out but come up with a strategy to make these illegal entrepreneurs opperate in an acceptable condition. for instance bringing them together, Give them some lessons on how to run a business in a CBD, register them as a cooperative and give them a venue which they will rent for. Because chasing them out will mean the municipality is perpetrating crime in the city.
Maby you can exsplain the toilet by Dial a movie there is a person outside selling one piece of toilet paper a rand each and drugs are also sold by the same person How do I know. Peter Naude froM Zululand Office supply needed a toilet urgent and that is what was going down at the time no one uses those toilets so wake up and remove them all that has been put out theire tax payer money wasted