KwaDukuza Municipality (KDM) is being forced back to the drawing board following the loud public outcry over the new pay parking system.
Launched by KDM mayor Ricardo Mthembu, the system that came into effect on November 1 imposed a R6 an hour fee for public parking bays in Ballito, Stanger, Umhlali and Shakaskraal.
In the first public meeting that specifically addressed the scheme, Mayor Mthembu engaged a crowd of over 80 people at the Ilembe Auditorium last Thursday and vowed to rethink the system and take into consideration the public’s concern.
He announced that a task team made up of community members and business representatives will be formed to work with KDM in addressing problems.
This comes after a month of complaints, protest action and a petition with over about 2 000 signatures.
Since the Ballito community boycotted the system in the commercial areas, it is currently only operating in the Stanger CBD and as of two weeks ago, at some beaches.
Complaints were that the plan did not provide concessions for long-time or employee parking, as well as the loss of revenue for some businesses and the lack of public participation.
Glenhills Civic Association chairperson Rishi Pooran, who led the protest against pay parking in Stanger a month ago, accused KDM of being inconsiderate to underprivileged people.
For more stories about the Pay Parking System click HERE
He also claimed that scanning licence discs was illegal.
“KDM gets R1.53 an hour while the private company gets R4.47. It is not municipal money going to them, it is people’s money. So we should do away with consultants and let the municipality carry out the system at R2 an hour instead of R6. The municipality has researched the system in Cape Town, Durban and Pietermaritzburg but have they ever realised that this municipality services mostly rural areas? A loaf of bread will cost you R18 and a minute of parking is R6.
“Are we not hurting the ratepayers who support the municipality? If people do not go to town to shop, what are businesses going to do? Consider your investment. Our household income in Stanger is not that of Durban,” he said.
Ballito business owner Gerard De Billot said while the parking system may benefit some areas, a blanket approach could see areas like the lower part of Ballito suffer.
“Pay parking is positive in some areas but nega – tive in other areas.
“The bottom town of Ballito has taken a long time to get going and now we are starting to notice fewer people. We need to create some growth there before bringing in a parking system and from a business point of view, it will really slow down the growth. There are also about 400 staff working in these commercial areas with no alternative parking.”
Although there had not been public meetings that specifically addressed the parking system, mayor Mthembu said the issue was on the agenda in the integrated development plans (IDP) and budget meetings that were held in all KwaDukuza wards. He said the problem was that people did not attend.
“People think that if they do not attend a meeting, a decision will not be taken. In places like Ballito, we lost the opportunity to engage because if you call a meeting and 30 people attend, we can say the meeting was well attended. Unless you anger them with something they do not attend.”
However, Stanger resident Vikram Singh argued that the IDP meetings dealt with broader issues.
He said that if the parking was addressed on its own, people would have responded.
Mthembu said that concessions such as parking outside hospitals and approaches for the different areas were being considered and will have to be renegotiated with the contractor.
The task team is expected to be formed in the next week and council will communicate its decisions or changes in the system before year-end.
>> Ready to say ‘I Do’ on the Dolphin Coast? Meet the team ready to advise, help and deliver on your big day.
>> Visit our Education feature for a collection of all the best schools, tutoring systems, and even some colleges and training facilities on the North Coast.
Do you want to receive news alerts via WhatsApp? Send us a WhatsApp message (not an sms) with your name and surname to 061 718 4438.
Please read our WhatsApp broadcast list disclaimer.
Join us on BBM at 59015786
Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
