The Democratic Alliance is urging ratepayers to oppose the re-launch of the pay parking system.
Two weeks ago, KwaDukuza municipality advertised proposed amendments to municipal bylaws that, if passed, will provide for pay parking in Ballito, Umhlali and Stanger.
In 2017 the scheme fell through after residents slammed the municipality for not properly consulting the public.
Now residents have been given until today to voice opposition, otherwise the scheme is set to come into effect this July.
However, no written opposition to the proposal has yet been received by KDM.
Also read: UPDATE: Pay parking may be back in full force this year – KwaDukuza
On Monday, local DA councillors led by a member of parliament Dean Macpherson held a public meeting outside the KDM Stanger offices, announcing that the party would be handing over a petition against the “ludicrous” scheme to the KwaDukuza mayor this month.
“We will take action by planning a march to handover our a petition to mayor Ricardo Mthembu and we will be holding a series of public meetings to encourage our communities to oppose the system,” said Macpherson.
Macpherson said the scheme would do more harm than good.
“The decision by the municipality is illogical when one looks at the economic conditions that we find ourselves in as a country and as a province. The outcry has been loud and clear. Small and medium businesses are worried that pay parking in the town will have devastating effects and may lead to closure and job losses. Instead of attracting business to towns, the ANC-led municipality is only pushing it away and this system will be the death of our business community.”
However, KDM media liaison officer Sipho Mkhize said the DA’s stance was a political ploy in light of elections.
“The DA is the first to say that we must find ways of generating money and creating jobs, but when we do, they stand against it. When the matter went to the council, the party did not have much to say but only made a noise when the community started to complain.”
However, DA caucus leader Madhun Sing said pay parking came as part of the 2017/2018 budget which the party rejected. He said that by doing so, they had also, in essence, rejected the roll-out of pay parking.
Mkhize said KDM’s stance remained the same – that pay parking was a revenue enhancing, job-creating scheme. He said the system would generate around R1 million a year, which in the long-run would provide relief to ratepayers.
“We have to find other ways of generating income instead of increases to rates.”
A copy of the proposal can be viewed at the Stanger Civic Building, KDM finance office in Stanger, and Salt Rock municipal office.
Written comments can be posted or hand delivered to the Stanger municipal building.
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