By Selloane Ntshonyane
- Some say the workshops are too close to the schools and could put children in danger.
- Others say the workshops create jobs and help stop crime in the area.
Residents in Pimville are fighting over small car workshops near two primary schools.
Three men, a mechanic and two spray painters, are being blamed, even though they say they are trying to help by creating jobs.
Justice Ngobeni is a mechanic who has lived and worked in Pimville for more than five years. He fixes cars on the street across from Tshebedisano Primary School in zone 2. He also rents a house nearby.
Some people in the area say his car repairs might not be safe for children and could cause pollution.
Another worker, spray painter Muhammad Hassamo, works next to Nkholi Primary School in the same area. He has lived there for more than seven years.
Hassamo said he taught his landlady how to spray paint a car and that she is now learning the skill.
But a new workshop that opened next to the same school has made some people angry. They say they were not told about it before it opened.
Tebogo Mashigo, who works as a patroller for the local police forum, said the new workshop could help stop crime in the open field next to Nkholi Primary School.
“When patrolling in the morning, we would find bodies of stolen cars there, and the learners from the local high school would hide weapons,” said Mashigo.
He also said: “They once found a body of an infant eaten by rats.”
Pimville community leader Thabang Moloi said: “The community is not against employment opportunities. But proper procedures must be followed, especially when it involves the safety of children.”
Moloi said the two men will be sent a formal letter of complaint.
Some residents support the men for giving people jobs and offering services. But others say the workshops are too close to children and are dangerous.
Xolani Fihla, the spokesperson for the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department, said the city’s rules do not allow people to clean or repair cars on public roads, except in emergencies.
“Mechanics working on vehicles can obstruct pedestrian walkways, especially concerning for children near schools. Repairs can create hazards with tools and parts, posing risks in a high-pedestrian area,” said Fihla.
He also said that spilling oil or other materials during repairs is dangerous, and running a business on a public road without a permit is not allowed.
Pictured above: Workshops near schools have caused division in Pimville.
Image source: Supplied
