Business owner fed up with awful stench

The owner of Wimpies Car Sales, Mr Wimpie Nel, says he is fed up with the terrible stench that lingers in the air in Poort Road. Mr Nel bought the property on which his business is now situated about 15 years ago, but only moved there a year ago. The used car sales dealership was previously situated higher up in Francis Road, just above Sondela Service Station.

The new premises is very close by. Mr Nel says he spent R6 million on the new property to make his business more convenient and accessible to everyone.

His intention was to allow flea markets to operate on his property, even allowing the community to sell hamburgers, etc, for a worthy cause. Mr Nel has even built a shelter at Wimpies to cater for the community, but he says this is all worth nothing if the horrible smell in the air chases everyone away.

The source of the smell is the small stream that runs next to Wimpies.

Illegal dumping takes place in the stream, and it is full of raw sewage. Mr Nel adds that he has had problems with his business’ sewer connections.

He claims that when uThukela workers came out to fix the problem, they made a mess of things.

“I have phoned uThukela on many occasions, but nothing has been done,” fumes Mr Nel. Other business owners in the area are also complaining about the everyday stench they have to endure. “This is so embarrassing, especially when people from out of town visit our businesses.

With that smell in their nostrils, how can they concentrate on buying anything? All they leave with is a tale of woe to tell everyone they know when they get back home. That’s not good advertising for Ladysmith,” concludes Mr Nel.

At the time of going to press, uThukela had failed to comment.