A single mother of three is up in arms after she sent her double cab for repairs to a Port Alfred mechanic and was told months later that all four wheels had been stolen.
Outraged school teacher Thobeka Mhlanga yesterday told the Daily Dispatch that all the repairs had still not been done by Motor Mate despite her giving them a R5000 deposit when she left the car there last October.
“I phoned every week to find out how the repairs were going but was never told all four tyres and rims had been stolen.”
Mhlanga said she only found out about the alleged theft of the tyres and a gear lock in February during a visit to find out how the work was progressing.
“I feel very sad; I have been crying a lot since I found out things had been stolen. I trusted them and was shocked when I heard the tyres were stolen a long time before they told me.”
Mhlanga said she wanted the company to fit tyres at their expense so she could remove the vehicle.
Motor Mate co-owner Dallas Ehrke yesterday said tyres and rims had been stolen from three vehicles, including Mhlanga’s, from his yard overnight last month.
According to Ehrke, other businesses also had rims and tyres stolen off their vehicles and trailers around about the same time.
“It seemed like there was a gang going through town hitting different businesses for tyres and rims. I can understand her disappointment, but crime is a real problem.”
He said although vehicles were parked at the owner’s risk, he had offered to try and help sort the vehicle tyres when the repairs were completed.
Security had since been beefed up at Motor Mate.
Ehrke denied they had not fixed the double cab bakkie, saying they had sorted out a starting problem soon after the vehicle was brought in.
He said the vehicle was misfiring after they fixed the starting issue and that they had been requested to sort that problem out too.
Ehrke said delays had been due to the December holiday shutdown and that a specialist part had been sent to Joburg for repairs but only returned in January.
“They could not fix the part in Joburg and we were asked to send it to Cape Town by the customer instead for a second opinion. The part should arrive back next week.
“I said we could work out something with the tyres then.”
According to Ehrke, he only met Mhlanga recently as the vehicle had been brought in by someone else for repairs.
Police spokesman Lieutenant Luvuyo Mjekula yesterday confirmed there had been several incidents of tyres and rims being stolen from vehicles in one weekend last month.
He said police were still investigating. — davidm@dispatch.co.za
Teacher stranded as double cab wheels stolen
Outraged school teacher Thobeka Mhlanga yesterday told the Daily Dispatch that all the repairs had still not been done by Motor Mate despite her giving them a R5000 deposit when she left the car there last October.
“I phoned every week to find out how the repairs were going but was never told all four tyres and rims had been stolen.”
Mhlanga said she only found out about the alleged theft of the tyres and a gear lock in February during a visit to find out how the work was progressing.
“I feel very sad; I have been crying a lot since I found out things had been stolen. I trusted them and was shocked when I heard the tyres were stolen a long time before they told me.”
Mhlanga said she wanted the company to fit tyres at their expense so she could remove the vehicle.
Motor Mate co-owner Dallas Ehrke yesterday said tyres and rims had been stolen from three vehicles, including Mhlanga’s, from his yard overnight last month.
According to Ehrke, other businesses also had rims and tyres stolen off their vehicles and trailers around about the same time.
“It seemed like there was a gang going through town hitting different businesses for tyres and rims. I can understand her disappointment, but crime is a real problem.”
He said although vehicles were parked at the owner’s risk, he had offered to try and help sort the vehicle tyres when the repairs were completed.
Security had since been beefed up at Motor Mate.
Ehrke denied they had not fixed the double cab bakkie, saying they had sorted out a starting problem soon after the vehicle was brought in.
He said the vehicle was misfiring after they fixed the starting issue and that they had been requested to sort that problem out too.
Ehrke said delays had been due to the December holiday shutdown and that a specialist part had been sent to Joburg for repairs but only returned in January.
“They could not fix the part in Joburg and we were asked to send it to Cape Town by the customer instead for a second opinion. The part should arrive back next week.
“I said we could work out something with the tyres then.”
According to Ehrke, he only met Mhlanga recently as the vehicle had been brought in by someone else for repairs.
Police spokesman Lieutenant Luvuyo Mjekula yesterday confirmed there had been several incidents of tyres and rims being stolen from vehicles in one weekend last month.
He said police were still investigating. — davidm@dispatch.co.za
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