Disabled parking procedure

According to a document explaining the application procedure to obtain a disability parking disc in Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Councils, issued by the Gauteng Provincial Association for Persons with Disabilities (GPAPD), it is stated that section 137 of the Road Traffic Act 29 of 1989 provides for special parking spaces for any person who has a prescribed disability, or for the person who transports the disabled person.

Persons with disabilities in Ekurhuleni need to apply for an official disabled parking disc.

This appeal is made by the GPAPD, because many people with mobility impairment, who have been unable to obtain certified discs, face the prospect of being fined by traffic officials and having their vehicles towed away when they fail to display the appropriate disc on their vehicles.

The GPAPD said there has been much confusion over the legality of certain discs, with some users opting to download these discs illegally from the Internet, or purchasing the disc from certain chain outlets in the country, out of sheer frustration.

GPAPD access and placement officer Fanie Swanepoel has been appointed to assist wheelchair users with applications for the wheelchair parking discs.

A detailed process of application has been developed by the GPAPD and is currently in operation through a provincial screening panel, which has been established to consider applications received from persons with disabilities residing in Ekurhuleni.

Temporary discs (three to nine months) are also issued for minor short term disabilities, but the same process has to be followed.

The application procedure for an accessible parking disc is as follows:

· The application form is available from the offices and sub-offices of GPAPD and can be emailed/faxed or collected by the applicant.

· All the relevant documents must be completed in full by the applicant, as well as his or her medical practitioner.

· The application should be accompanied by a medical certificate from a registered health professional or an occupational therapist, or physio or medical doctor.

· The applicant must then send the completed documents back to the GPAPD via fax or email, together with a certified copy of the applicant’s ID document.

· The disc is registered in the applicant’s name and can be used with any vehicle.

· A parking disc will be issued for a maximum period of five years, after which the applicant must re-apply, or two years (temporary disc depending on the nature of the disability).

Once the above is completed an application is lodged with GPAPD, which requires the applicant to appear before a screening panel, who then pursue the final application on behalf of the applicant, with the relevant authorities.

Persons with disabilities in Ekurhuleni who need to apply for an official disabled parking disc are urged to get in touch with GPAPD, by contacting Swanepoel on 082 856 9859.

The nearest GPAPD branch to Benoni is in Tembisa on the corner Benin and Jacky streets, Ethafeni Section, Tembisa 1632.