AN Umbilo resident has expressed his shock after seeing a Metro Police officer ticketing motorists in a quiet road in Umbilo recently, saying nothing is done to control illegal parking in Rick Turner Road on a daily basis.
According to the resident who did not want to be named, he was driving down Prospect Road, Umbilo on Sunday 19 April at about midday when he noticed a Metro Police van parked on the side of the road.
“I immediately noted a Metro Police officer on the opposite side of the road issuing a ticket for a vehicle that was parked on the pavement outside a residence. As we drove further up Prospect Road we noted a number of other vehicles that had parked on the pavement and had all been ticketed. I am absolutely disgusted that such action would be taken by our Metro police force. Are they now completely ignoring the real crime in our suburbs and targeting the residents instead? What about the ongoing saga at the top of Rick Turner Road?” he said.
He said despite numerous complaints and outcries nothing seemed to be done about the chaotic situation at the top of Rick Turner Road where ‘No Stopping’ signs have been erected outside the various take-away outlets. “Despite this, motorists blatantly ignore the signs even in peak traffic times causing serious congestion and evidently so too do our Metro Police force. Shame on you Metro police. Please use our hard earned taxes more constructively and fight real crime and stop picking on the easy targets to boost your own coffers,” he said.
In response, senior superintendent, Eugene Msomi, of Metro Police, said parking on the the sidewalk on Sundays was one of the most prevalent complaints metro police received. “Precisely because most people enjoy walking in their spare time. Notwithstanding it may seem trivial to the uninformed, police have to carry out their duties and responsibility in enforcing bylaws.”
