A tiff with beach management at Gqeberha’s Sardinia Bay has left a bitter taste in the mouth of Wurst Wagen owner Gunter Hardt — and this may mark the end of his three-decade venture.
For more than 30 years, Hardt has been serving sizzling sausages and other rich cultural mouthfuls to throngs of revellers visiting the beach.
In his cabin-style mobile food caravan, the much-loved German hawker rolled up and began trading at the popular sandy attraction in 1992.
But after hitting a snag in trying to renew his application for trading ahead of the year-end seasonal rush in November, he said he had begun thinking twice about continuing his venture.
“The way management has gone on is why I might not apply to trade at Sardinia Bay in the foreseeable future,” Hardt said.
He said his unpleasant experience had begun after the annual advert calling for applications was apparently not published in the local government gazette or newspaper.
He eventually went to Brister House in Central to submit his application in early November, “less than three weeks before the busiest period of the year”, the longtime trader said.
The municipality rejected his application on November 29.
A letter signed by acting sport, recreation, arts and culture executive director Dr Khiti Ngesi stated that several documents were missing from the application.
“I’d put my application together in a hurry because I did not want to miss the start [of the festive] season,” he said.
“In all decency, after so many years, they should have given some sort of leeway for submission given a notice was not placed in the paper.”
Sardinia Bay traders are required to submit proof of company or hawker’s licence, a waste management plan, a certificate of food acceptability and a business licence to trade.
Hardt, in his application a day earlier, had missed attaching the documents, managing only to do so on November 30.
“When I initially submitted my application, I could not get all the paperwork together in time because it was a few days before their shutdown.
“However, it was the first time they had requested I submit supporting documents.
“For the last 15 years [the municipality] gave me no hassles because they had it on their system.
“But, in December, [beaches, resorts and events manager] Kurt Cain told me I was not successful because I did not submit my documents.
“To lose out on business at the start of the holiday season means it was no longer worthwhile being at Sardinia Bay any more.”
Hardt said he had approached Ward 1 councillor Dries van der Westhuizen last month to help him carry his plea to the mayor’s office.
On December 12, he requested a re-evaluation of his application.
Hardt, who has since paid about R450 to renew his certificate of acceptability, said his heart was set on remaining on the pristine coastline area, but he was feeling undue pressure from beach management.
Van der Westhuizen refuted claims there were attempts to stifle Wurst Wagen or get Hardt out of the area.
He said his office had tried to assist him.
“My office contacted the municipality, which notified us he had not submitted all the required paperwork.
“We asked that they give him another chance. He was allowed to reapply.
“After [accepting his application] the second time, he was told he needed to renew two documents.
“After telling Gunter this, he said he was tired of the municipality trying to push him out.
“He said he was finished and would pack up the business.”
Van der Westhuizen said it was advantageous to have a trader in the spot Hardt traded.
“There were two previous applications for his spot a while back.
“He was accepted because everyone [appreciated] he had been in the area for a while.
“I cannot think of any reason anyone would want to work him out.”
Municipal spokesperson Sithembiso Soyaya said he would respond to claims that the municipality had missed the deadline to publish a notice for proposals to trade.
HeraldLIVE
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.