Buffalo City cracks down on illegal car washes

The Buffalo City Metro Municipality (BCMM) may soon introduce a fine of R1,000 for motorists who are caught patronising car washers on the Quigney Esplanade.

This measure is part of intensified efforts to enforce bylaws that prohibit cars from being washed on a public road.

This bylaw has gone ignored by motorists in the last several years who take their cars to be washed by unemployed people who stand on the beach pavement with buckets, waving their washcloths.

The municipality is also clamping down on the car washers following claims they are using water obtained through illegally connected means.

Earlier this month, BCMM spokesperson Samkelo Ngwenya said the city was implementing systems to enable officials to impound vehicles being washed at the esplanade, however this warning has not deterred obstinate motorists.

Ngwenya said: “Members of the public have proved to be troublesome, and they become verbally abusive to law enforcement personnel who issue written notices.

“No vehicles have been impounded yet, but we have issued fines. The amount is R100 but this has not proved an effective means of deterring motorists.

“The car washers themselves are often belligerent and become physically violent in defending their illegal activity and bring an element of criminality to the area, often consuming alcohol and other intoxicants while plying their trade.

“The relevant bylaw is receiving urgent review and upgrade regarding the amount of R100 which is not enough. Only through escalating it to R1,000 will it be an effective deterrent.

“The metro also wants to have a fully fledged law enforcement and municipal courts to prosecute.”

In the last two weeks, the city confirms there has been permanent law enforcement presence along the beachfront and collaboration with civic volunteers from Quigney Ratepayers’ Association (QRPA), Quigney Crime Patrol Forum, and Tidy Towns Buffalo City to increase patrols and educate the public on the bylaws.

There are discussions under way between the city and car washers to establish a centralised venue from which to operate that models the success the municipality has had with moving informal street food sellers to Ebhulanti, however the municipality said it has not been easy to convince the car washers to buy into a more structured business model.

QRPA has formulated a beach front community security patrol group that has recruited and registered two of the former car washers for a small stipend paid by the businesses in the area.

These new recruits patrol and remove litter from the area while keeping car washers away and increasing public awareness on the bylaws and signage in the area prohibiting illegal car washing.

QRPA chair Satish Nair said: “We are keeping the area clean and safe which has meant that we are already seeing the return of tourists walking along the beach front again.

“In our patrols there has been very little pushback from the car washers as most are now looking for other employment or washing elsewhere.

“We want to recruit at least five people to the patrol group to ensure that no car washing takes place again.

“We also want to have a registered and limited amount of car guards in the area who will have proper uniform and proper identification and work with civic patrol groups and BCMM law enforcement to enforce bylaws at the beach front with the goal of creating a safe, clean and tranquil beach front.”

Earlier this month, Masibulele Zinga, from Southernwood in East London told News24 said he had been surviving by washing cars at the beachfront since late 2020.

He charges between R60 and R70 per vehicle.

“I used to survive on odd jobs before coming here,” he said.

“When Covid-19 came, my piece jobs disappeared. I had to go around begging people for food until a friend of mine, who has been surviving on car wash[es] here, advised me to come and work with him here.”

Zinga added: “I wash about five vehicles on weekdays and up to 10 on weekends. I no longer beg people for money.”