An initiative by Mamelodi-based Ward Councillors codenamed Operation Vali Car Wash has proved to be a success.
The operation started on Thursday.
This as the operation has resulted in water levels at R3 and R4 reservoirs in Mamelodi being restored to the required levels and also preventing them from running out empty.
The operation Vali Car Wash led by deputy chief whip of councillors Collen Marishane joined by chairperson of economic development and ward 40 councillor Joel Masilela, ward 17 Pinky Lelaka, ward 6 Shiba Madansela, ward 86 Kholofelo Kgopotso together with Gauteng warden crime prevention, CPF, Tshwane Metro police.
Together they joined hands and travel around Wards 16,17, 93, 18, 15 and 40 and 18 warning and shutting down car wash.
They also warned hawkers, recyclers business who did not have papers, to get their papers in order or they will be moved.
They also talked to local car wash owners about registration of their business, helping them with funding.
According to Deputy Chief Whip of Councillor Mmina- Tau Collen Marishane, the operation is actually stage 2 of rescuing R3 and R4 reservoirs so that they can have necessary pressure to push into the network and supply water to areas like Ikageng, Extension 4, Vista View, Extension 5, Extension 6, Phase 3, Phase 4, Phase 5, Mahube Extension 1, 2 and 3 as well as Extension 17 and Gem Valley.
The said areas have been experiencing prolonged periods of water outages.
“We noticed that one of the biggest contributors for the reservoirs to run out of water are the car wash businesses that are prevalent in Mamelodi, this as they draw vast amounts of water from the said reservoirs,” said Marishane.
“For the past two or three weeks we started shutting down our reservoir at around 10 every evening and opening it up at around 6 every morning and would find it being at least 40% full, yet when it is open from 6am one finds out that at around 12 noon it is already at a low of 7%,” explained the deputy chief whip of Councillor.
He said their analysis then indicated that the car wash outlets were the biggest drawers of water from the reservoirs.
“The problem with car wash outlets that we are dealing with is that they are not formalised, they are neither metered nor billed, and we therefore regard them as water loss entities,” elaborated Marishane.
He pointed out that car wash outlets contribute a lot to the unaccounted 42% of water loss which Rand Water, City of Tshwane and the Department of Water and Sanitation have been complaining about as it runs into billions of rand.
“As Ward Councillors, TMPD by-law enforcement section together with Gauteng Traffic Wardens, CPF and all relevant stakeholders and communities affected by water shortages we took a decision to save the reservoirs from running out empty and on Wednesday we managed to warn around 42 car wash outlets to shut down their businesses with immediate effect, so as to rescue the reservoirs and prevent them from running out of water,” he said.
“On Thursday we resumed our operations and visited the selfsame car wash outlets and those among them who were found operating in defiance of our warning had their car wash cleaning materials confiscated in Shilovane Street and Tsamaya Road right up until at Mams Mall,” said Marishane.
“We then discovered that they were more car wash outlets in areas like Balebogeng Primary School, Sgegethi Liquor outlet and Shell petrol station on Tsmaya Road in Mamelodi East right up to Vista University on Hinterland Road, and we duly warned operators of such outlets to also shut down with immediate effect,” he said.
“Operation Vali Car Wash is a success because residents of Ikgageng have informed us that currently water is flowing in their households and there is also water in Extension 6 and we haven’t received even a single complaint regarding water in Extension 4 today,” said an elated Marishane.
“Areas close to Solomon Mahlangu Drive have also not experienced any water shortages today after being without water for about two weeks,” said the deputy chief whip of Councillor.
He said residents can now carry on with their daily routines like cooking, washing, bathing, flushing their toilets and cleaning their houses without the inconvenience of being without water.
“We are not an evil government that doesn’t cooperate with the community, and we will soon consult residents regarding the registration of their business entities so that they can comply and be included in the economic spin-off of Operation Vali Car Wash,” he said.
He emphasised that car wash outlets must operate at designated places because water coming from the said car wash outlets must not flood the road as it causes potholes.
He revealed that instead of turning nyaope addicts into a laughingstock, Ward Councillors and the community of Mamelodi must instead turn them into responsible citizens with an opportunity to earn an income.
“For example, those among the addicts who have the ability to wash cars will be the ones who are given an opportunity to do so, but for now all car wash outlets will remain closed until we reach sufficient water levels inside the reservoirs,” announced Marishane.
“We don’t want a South African who is a property owner coming forward to register for a car wash business then later handing the selfsame car wash business to a foreigner who will then make times more money than him,” said Marishane earnestly.
Areas that were covered on Friday by Operation Vali Car Wash are Wards 16,17, 93, 18, 15 and 40 and 18 key streets in Mamelodi and that means 84 car wash outlets were interacted with and given the warning to shut down their businesses immediately, according to Marishane.
Mandla Mziza from Phase 3 owner of Ko Spikiri food and entertainment told Tshwane Talks that he has been running the business for the past 3 years.
“I hear their reason, and they should have given us more time to prepare us.
We are struggling with water and now I have been given 24 hours to operate.
I run a legit and registered my business and I only need to register my business to municipality only,” said owner of car wash Mziza.
He said he would love for officials of Tshwane to come forward and help them to register to comply.
The car wash that belongs to foreigners must get papers as well.
“The competition is a lot and most people who support are friend and my message to mayor is that she must come on the ground and see where she can help us with registration of papers from city of Tshwane.
I pay tax every year and rent bill cause I’m using water from my home and the bill is high and I’m pleading with city to install meters for me in my car wash,” he said.
“The operation is good, and I would like the city to install meter for us as car wash owners and I hope the stoppage of or business will make people of those areas to get water like us,” said car wash owner Jabulani Hlangane.