Illegal parking at Gautrain to be clamped down
MIDRAND - In August last year, Gautrain user Hillary Hinkwa told Midrand Reporter that he and other motorists park at the illegal parking area outside the Gautrain Station.
He said, “We have been parking in that undesignated parking space as it is an open space and there are no signs informing us that it is illegal to park there. It’s costly to pay R18 daily for the first 24 hours for parking.”
Due to the ongoing problem of illegal parking, the City of Johannesburg will soon take steps to deal with the illegal parking outside the station. The city’s spokesperson Nthatisi Modiangoane said the area in front of the Gautrain station is a provincial road reserve and parking in this area is prohibited as this is a contravention of the City of Johannesburg’s Public Open Spaces By-laws. He added, “The City will conduct an education campaign over the next two weeks to inform and educate motorists about the bylaws and encourage them to stop this practice.”
Modiangoane stressed that if this intervention does not have the desired effect, stringent law enforcement measures will take place in order to ensure the road reserve areas remain clear of vehicles. A fine of R500 will be issued to vehicle owners who will also have to pay R2 370 to take out their car from the impound.
According to Gautrain spokesperson Barbara Jensen, there is sufficient parking available in the station’s designated parking area. “Some users, however, choose not to use this area and park outside the station for whatever reason. Users, therefore, have the option to use the Gautrain bus service and park their vehicles in a risk-free environment,” said Jensen.
Read our previous story, R500 fine for parking outside station.
Tell us about your parking experience at the station in the comments section below.
