Tshwane cracks down on car washes using fire hydrants illegally

The Citizen

6 days ago

Illegal use of municipal fire hydrants in Tshwane is raising serious concern among residents and city officials.
Officials have warned that the practice is unlawful and poses a major threat to public safety and firefighting operations.
Tshwane Emergency Services spokesperson, Lindsay Mnguni, said the unauthorised use of hydrants often causes physical damage that makes the hydrants unusable during emergencies.
'Illegal use of the hydrant results in unaccounted water losses. Those hydrants also become inoperable as they are damaged,' he said.
He added that when hydrants are tampered with, firefighters may waste critical time searching for the next available water source, which can severely impact their ability to save lives and property.
Mnguni confirmed that such cases have been reported across the city, including incidents where car washes at taxi ranks were found drawing water directly from hydrants.
'It is difficult to track the users, as they should be caught while in use. Such fire hydrants are immediately locked to prevent unnecessary future usage.
'Unused hydrants are locked with special devices accessible only to fire brigade personnel,' he said.
He noted that these efforts are supported by ongoing inspections from fire hydrant officers around the city.
'Word-of-mouth also assists with reporting faulty fire hydrants, and, where necessary, legal steps are taken in relation to the Fire Brigade Services by-laws.
'This is a concerted effort requiring both the community and the city to hold hands together in ensuring that we keep our hydrant in good working order,' Mnguni said.
He emphasised that there is no provision for the legal use of hydrants by private individuals or businesses.
Mnguni pointed to the city's Fire Brigade Services by-laws, which state that 'except for purposes of inspection, service, repair, or firefighting, no person may remove or interfere with any firefighting equipment or service installation at any premises'.
He explained that violations of these by-laws can result in a fine of R3 000 or more serious consequences if such actions endanger life or property.
'Fire hydrants are critical infrastructure designed to provide bulk water for firefighting purposes, not for unauthorised commercial use.
'The city is currently engaging with the Lyttelton Ratepayers Association to find operable ways to deal with such challenges, and also to educate the community about the proper usage of fire hydrants,' he added.
In Lyttelton, illegal car washes have become a persistent and growing issue.
PR councillor Wesley Jacobs said tampering and theft of water from hydrants began after the establishment of the informal settlement known as Sports Park.
Jacobs explained the settlement receives water tanker deliveries only once a week, and that this has led to widespread theft from municipal hydrants.
'It became highly noticeable when these establishments started operating from 08:00 to 17:00, and that's when I asked for assistance from the TMPD,' he said.
He identified hotspots for these operations near Lyttelton Shopping Centre, particularly along Cantonments Avenue and Government Road.
'This behaviour influenced others to also establish illegal car washes on Fountains Avenue, under a tree.
'However, this was cut short as I arranged for a tractor-loader-backhoe (TLB) to have them demolished and removed with the help and assistance of TMPD,' he said.
Jacobs said these operations violate several by-laws, including the Fire Brigade Services By-law for tampering with hydrants, the Street and Public Place by-laws for obstructing public spaces without permission, and the Trading by-laws for operating without the necessary permits.
During joint enforcement operations with the TMPD, Jacobs said officers have confiscated buckets, soap, municipal bins used for water storage, and tools used to open hydrants.
'Many of the people operating these car washes are young men between 18 and 30, living in either the informal settlement or the hijacked city hall building,' he said.
Jacobs said fining these individuals is often ineffective, as they lack the means to pay, and the process further strains the city's limited resources.
'Giving them a fine for washing of cars would serve no purpose. It just further wastes city resources, so attention was focused on the root causes,' he said.
He added that enforcement remains difficult due to the lack of dedicated TMPD resources.
'When going on raids with TMPD, we often wait hours for waste trucks and TLBs to assist with the upkeep of waste by-laws and removal of illegal dumping.
'If TMPD had their own dedicated waste truck, they could be more effective and self-sufficient,' he said.
Another challenge is the absence of secure storage facilities for confiscated materials, which limits TMPD's ability to enforce by-laws fully.
Despite these obstacles, Jacobs said he has ensured that all hydrants known to be used illegally have been locked.
'At the moment, there are two hydrants that could not be locked due to the locks not being compatible with the hydrant heads, so I am having them changed, and they will soon be locked, stopping the theft of water and hopefully stopping the illegal car wash in its entirety,' he said.
Jacobs also expressed concern about the broader impact of these illegal operations.
'These unlawful acts include accessing municipal water for free while making a profit through illegal establishments, whereas residents are expected to pay for water.
'This fosters a sense of lawlessness in a quiet suburban area and undermines the area's orderly and well-maintained aesthetics,' he said.
He also noted that the car washes often operate on municipal sidewalks and in areas not zoned for such use.
'They should be classified as criminals, as they are utilising state property to make a living, which is a crime,' Jacobs said.
He encouraged residents to report illegal activity to the TMPD at 012 664 4445 or 012 358 7095, or to Emergency Services at 107.
He also dismissed suggestions to formalise these operations.
'Legitimate establishments should follow the city's procedures through city property, with the respective business licenses in accordance with the city's rules and regulations.
'If you simply do not pay rates or taxes, whether in your personal capacity or business capacity, you are not a contributing member to this economy, and it is not fair to law-abiding residents,' he added.
Ward 57 councillor David Farquharson said he is also aware of the ongoing water theft and illegal car washes taking place in the area.
He said he has had multiple discussions with TMPD, Emergency Services, and the regional offices to address the problem.
'There is an improvement in policing for a few days and then bad habits resume.'
Farquharson believes a practical solution lies in the installation of locking caps on all hydrants, but said the city's slow procurement processes are hampering progress.
'The metro's purchasing processes are slow, and getting the hydrant locks is slower,' he said.
He added that the better long-term solution is improved policing.
'Water theft is a city-wide problem. The hijacking of the Mabopane reservoir and other reservoirs is a sign of how far law enforcement is falling short.'
Lyttelton resident Sarah Fourie said the illegal car washes have become a visible and ongoing problem in the area.
'It is honestly unacceptable. Just a few weeks ago, I drove past the corner near the shopping centre, and there was a group of men washing cars using buckets and sponges, with water pouring down the street.
She added that the activity damages the image of the suburb.
'We pay for our water and take pride in our neighbourhood, yet here are people abusing public resources, creating messes, and operating freely with no consequences.
'It creates a sense that law and order do not apply here anymore,' she said.
The Tshwane Metro Police Department is yet to respond to Rekord's enquiry regarding the matter.
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