City’s illegal mechanics still operating

The plague of illegal street mechanics in the city seems to be spreading to other areas. Over the past weeks, new operations have sprung up in Kiepersol and Figtree streets.

Bester Street is one of the areas which had people talking in the past and now it is as if the illegal operations are slowly moving to other places such as Plankie Street and the Old Pretoria Road.

In the past years Nelspruit Post has written articles about illegal mechanics. This followed when some community members, motorists and business owners raised their concerns about the damage illegal mechanics cause in the city.  The mechanics service cars illegally next to the road and under trees.

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They spill chemicals and oils and do not clean up after they are done. In the past when residents raised their concerns, pollution was not the only issue. Some motorists said when they had to park their vehicles on the side of the road, they were told to move.

City of Mbombela Local Municipality (CMLM) spokesman, Joseph Ngala, said the law enforcers are constantly trying to remove the illegal mechanics.

However, they always return. Ngala said he was not aware of the latest illegal operations, although he will investigate.

“We previously removed the illegal mechanics in Bester Street and other streets in the city, although they keep developing strategies of running away when they see the law enforcement team. They now operate in new areas which are hidden and they know we might not see them.

We will continue to monitor the situation and continue to send law enforcers,” he said. Ngala said members of the public need to stop supporting the illegal mechanics.

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