'Bush mechanics' and FCC spoiling for a fight

CHAKALISA DUBE
Staff Writer | Friday August 10, 2012 00:00

By-law officers say mechanics found by Auto Master, Caltex, Star Motors and Motovac in the Central Business District (CBD) as well as near other spares shops in the city's Light Industrial area, have been operating illegally for years.The officials also charge that the mechanics pollute the environment through oil spillages as well as plastics and chemicals they use to tint their clients' vehicles.

The officials regularly confiscate tools and other materials used by the mechanics and demand payment for their return. On the other hand, the mechanics say they will not move from their bases because the council officials have, for years, failed to give them a suitable space to operate their business. They also insist that they dispose of their oil in a way that does not pollute the environment.

Chakalisa Kenosi (31) of Marobela who resides in Block 2, emphasised, 'The council officials are not eager to listen to our side of the story. They just confiscate our tools, which to me does not make sense because they have failed to provide us with space to operate our businesses. It is also not viable for us to operate from our homes because there are no customers there. I believe we should sit down together, discuss this issue and find a solution because the debacle has been running for years,' he said. He also denied that oil spillages from their cars pollute the environment.

'We have drains that we use to dispose of the oil. Even the plastics we use to tint vehicles are well disposed of in rubbish bins,' he said. Hosia Machara, 25 of Blue Town, who repairs cars near Auto Master, is also not impressed by the conduct of by-law-officials.'I have in the past had my materials seized by these people (by-law officers). Even the spares bought by customers were seized at some point.

I think what the officers are doing is tantamount to taking food away from us. The council officials should sensitise us on taking care of the environment regularly instead of confiscating our materials,' bemoaned Machara. 'Even garages do not pay us what we deserve when they employ us. That is why we end up having to operate here,' he said. The mayor here, Ephraim Maiketso said this week in an interview that the council is concerned about mechanics who operate near spares shops around the city. He said oil spillages from the cars they repair and plastics they use to tint vehicles pollute the environment. 'We are in the process of consulting all stakeholders involved to see how we can best deal with the situation,' he said.