Illegal ‘mechanical’ workshop emerges on Halfway House’s Market Street
Hannelie Laing posted about these cars getting 'serviced' in front of the Health Emporium in Halfway House, and Superintendent Xolani Fihla confirmed that such an act is in contravention of the city's by-laws.
Halfway House’s Market Street in Midrand is now allegedly being turned into a ‘workshop’ as mechanics fix cars there.
This was a concern raised on the Halfway House Development Forum (HHDF) WhatsApp group on February 13.
A community member, Hannelie Laing, shared a photo on the social media platform of cars being repaired on the street.
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The publication contacted Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) spokesperson Superintendent Xolani Fihla on February 20.
Fihla was asked if this was a by-law infringement, and what steps could JMPD take to stop this practice.
He said JMPD officers can take several actions, including issuing verbal warnings to cease the activity. “Or issuing fines for by-law infringements and impounding of tools used to fix the vehicle. In cases where the repairs are causing significant obstruction, or pose a safety hazard, officers may instruct the vehicle owner, or mechanic, to remove the vehicle, and any tools, from the roadside immediately,” said Fihla.
He added that if the vehicle is deemed abandoned, or poses a serious hazard, it could be towed.
He said repairing, fixing, and servicing cars on the side of the road is considered a by-law infringement, unless it is emergency repairs due to a vehicle breakdown.
“The City of Johannesburg’s public roads and miscellaneous by-laws outline that: No person may clean or repair any part of a vehicle, or wash, dry, or paint any article or object, on any public road, except in the case of an emergency breakdown of a vehicle, when emergency repairs may be done,” he said.
The monetary fine is R500, and if the transgressor fails to pay the fine, or appear in court to represent themselves, a warrant of arrest can be issued by the court.
Fihla concluded that repairing vehicles on the roadside can obstruct traffic flow, create safety hazards, and contribute to environmental pollution such as oil spills.
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