Around 11 young men brought High Street to a halt on Wednesday morning, as they protested the recent enforcement of a bylaw preventing them from washing cars on the street.
Around 11 young men brought High Street to a halt on Wednesday morning, as they protested the recent enforcement of a bylaw preventing them from washing cars on the street.
The group strode through the city centre carrying hand-written placards and emptying rubbish bins on to the street.
A sign was erected at the Drostdy Arch end of High Street last week, warning that anyone washing cars on the street would be fined.
The move has angered the former informal car-washers, who say it has deprived them of a chance to earn a living.
The group left a trail of mayhem en route to the city hall, where they demanded to meet the Mayor and strew rubbish at the building's entrance.
Drama unfolded when nine police officers arrested 11 protesters who barged into City hall.
Two walked away, while the remaining nine were crammed into a police van.
The men were subsequently released and the municipality, with no charges pressed.
Social Development portfolio chairperson, Councillor Mabhuti Matyumza, told Grocott's Mail they were not aware of the protest until the group had come into City hall.
"We were in a meeting when we heard the noise, and when we came outside we saw all this rubbish," he said.
Matyumza said they had decided not to lay charges because the protesters had done no damage.
He said they had met with the group to listen their grievances.
"We came to understand that they were demonstrating their anger at being kicked out by traffic officers," said Matyumza.
He said he, along with director of community and social services Mandisi Planga and councillor Vuyani Kolisi had spoken to the group and explained the bylaw to them.
"They told us some of them were previously in jail, but now that they were out they are trying to make an honest living. This is a valid reason – but there is a bylaw in the municipality that prohibits car washing in the streets."
"We have agreed to meet with them and the Executive Mayor tomorrow morning [Thursday] and see how they can be assisted," Matyumza said.
The men were then ordered to pick up the rubbish they had scattered in front of the city hall.
During the municipality's Aesthetics Committee meeting earlier this week, it was noted that the signs had been erected in the middle of the island in upper High Street unprocedurally and no applications had been received by the committee.
Businessman Eugene Ripenz said, "Being in the hospitality business I am always in contact with tourists and many of them have complained about feeling threatened and annoyed by the car-wash guys."
"For this reason I feel that they are causing great damage to the tourism of Grahamstown."
"While washing cars is their only form of income, it is still illegal and therefore should not be allowed. How can one riot for something when it is illegal? Grahamstown needs to clean up for the tourists because they keep our town going."
Municipal spokesman Mncedisi Boma was not available for comment at the time of going to press.
