Iconic Wimpy on the rocks

Thousands of Scottburgh residents are determined to prevent Umdoni municipality from evicting the Wimpy restaurant from the main beach.

More than 3500 people have signed a #WimpyStay petition and a demonstration at the next council meeting, at which residents will hold up protest placards, has been planned.

The "iconic" restaurant has operated on the main beachfront for 26 years and its location has made it a popular tourist spot and a meeting place for locals. But residents say they are fighting for more than coffee, burgers and a sea view.

Said Bronwyn Tanner: "The Wimpy is synonymous with Scott-burgh. There are very few people who live in Scottburgh who haven't frequented the Wimpy on the beachfront to enjoy a breakfast and take in the magnificent view.

"Holidaymakers come to the Wimpy in their droves. Close it and Scottburgh will be very poor, in more ways than one."

Local business people and residents fear that holidaymakers will lose interest in the seaside town if there are no restaurants or shops on the beachfront.

An ice-cream parlour will be the only shop in the Pavilion complex on the beachfront if the Wimpy closes.

Umdoni municipality has struggled to explain why it sent the Wimpy an eviction order.

Municipal spokesman Zamavezi Kweyama said yesterday that she did not have sufficient information to comment.

Provincial AfriForum coordinator Chris Fourie, who started the petition, said the municipality had told Faurco Investments, which owns the Wimpy, that it would have to secure a long-term franchise agreement if it wanted to extend the lease.

"The owner got the agreement from franchiser Famous Brands but the municipality has gone ahead with the eviction order," he said.

Fourie, using the Promotion of Access to Information Act, has asked that he be told what transpired at the council meeting at which the decision to evict the Wimpy was made.

"If the Wimpy is evicted, the tender process to bring in another restaurant will take months and Scottburgh stands to lose during those months," Fourie said.

Faurco Investments declined to comment. It is opposing the eviction order in the Durban High Court.

"A date for the hearing has not yet been finalised," Fourie said.