Mechanics cause more headaches to owners

The infamous Bester Street mechanics are again causing a headache to local business owners in town while they still continue to operate in front of professional businesses illegally.

The mechanics fix cars in the street, causing big oil stains on the tar surface and damaging the paving with their tools. Business owners complain that this environment makes it unattractive for business in the area and it is affecting their productivity.

They say they have also become so tired of complaining about the issue.

One shop owner who has identified himself as Mandla Twala, says these operations are influencing his work negatively.

“What will happen when I decide to close shop and retrench all my staff because of the illegal operations directly impacting on my livelihood?” he asks.

In the mechanics’ defence, one of them who wants to remain anonymous, says it is convenient to operate there because that is where their customer base is.

This part of town has also became like a no-go area as locals are afraid to enter the street to do shopping.

Nelspruit Post has contacted Mbombela Local Municipality (MLM) about by-laws that regulate business practices, but at the time of going to print it has not responded yet.

The newspaper wants to establish the kind of sentence that can be imposed on the mechanics if they operate illegally in a public space, and what the municipality is doing to remove them.