Major South African city pushing imprisonment for getting your car washed

The Buffalo City Metro is stepping up its clampdown efforts against illegal car washing at the East London beachfront, and will be approaching the courts to request heavier fines, vehicle impounding, and even imprisonment options for motorists who frequent these businesses.

The city notes that unlawful car wash operators have attracted unwanted crowds to the picturesque beachfront, as a result deterring tourism and increasing criminality.

“The main challenge is the fact that our beachfront is being consciously and deliberately destroyed by motorists who are feeding this crime by bringing their cars for washing,” said Buffalo City Metro spokesperson Samkelo Ngwenya

“This has serious implications for tourism and discourages people from enjoying the ambience of the natural beauty of our beachfront. It also encourages opportune crimes whilst the road network infrastructure is being eroded.”

The dirty water that is frequently thrown out onto the tarmac is also accelerating the deterioration of the road.

R100 is not enough

When Buffalo City Metro authorities patrol the area East London beachfront they regularly arrest the car washers for various crimes and confiscate their equipment, whilst also fining the motorists who brought their vehicles to get cleaned.

However, Ngwenya notes that the R100 fine per vehicle as prescribed in the city’s bylaws is no longer deterring drivers. Even signboards warning against car washing have been vandalised.

The city’s security cluster, led by the South African Police Service together with BCM Law Enforcement Services and Traffic, is therefore seeking to bolster its arsenal of fines and penalties for motorists who encourage this unlawful practice.

“We will continue working with all roleplayers including local businesses and community crime prevention forums to clamp down on this matter, but it is time that we direct our clampdown to car owners,” said Ngwenya.

“We urge motorists not to bring cars for illegal washing, public drinking, and playing loud music on the beachfront.”

Both motorists and car washers have voiced their protests against the Buffalo City Metro’s actions, claiming that these businesses are a way for people to make ends meet in a city where legitimate employment opportunities are few and far between.

In support of these citizens, the metro has vowed that it will establish a database of the car washers with the end goal of finding them another location to continue serving their clients and earning an income, SABC News reports.