“Due to the constant disregard and abuse of the disabled parking bays, we have no choice but to be strict and ensure the rules are adhered to at all times or impose the fine of R500.”
Life has its fair share of challenges, but understanding the uphill battled faced by people with disabilities is near impossible.
“A family member who was diagnosed with polio at age six, my cousin and I visited Newcastle Mall recently,” claimed Mr Abdool (first name withheld). “It was late on a Sunday and the parking lot was basically empty, so we decided to park in the bays allotted for the disabled.”
Mr Abdool’s family member was able to walk a short distance before retiring to the vehicle to rest.
“He waited in the car while my cousin and I walked to a grocery store on the opposite side of the mall,” he continued. “When we returned, I noticed the wheel had been clamped.”
A dejected Mr Abdool explained how his family member’s disability was obvious, and said he could not understand why the 69-year-old’s condition was not taken into consideration.
“The car we usually travel in does in fact have a valid disc, but we travelled in a different car this time around.”
According to Mr Abdool, the Newcastle Mall staff were ‘rude and arrogant’ when he attempted to explain the situation. Emotionally, he disclosed how amid the ‘commotion’, nature took its course and the man had to relieve himself in the vehicle.
“I was escorted to the security control room where one of the staff members simply said, This man must pay. I had apparently broken the law and even after trying to explain my dilemma, I was simply told to pay a R500 fine,” Mr Abdool added.
Newcastle Mall’s wheel clamping policy states the following, “Only vehicles that display a valid KZNFC disc are allowed to make use of the disabled parking bays. We have also allowed persons who are in a wheelchair to make use of these parking bays as well. Vehicles who do not fall into the above and park in these bays are clamped by one of our staff and are fined R500 which is payable at our security control room. After payment is made an official receipt is issued and the vehicle will only then be unclamped.”
After allegations of ‘overly stringent’ policies, Newcastle Mall management responded by explaining just how lenient this policy actually is.
“We are considerate of the disabled and this is the reason regulations were changed from originally only allowing vehicles with a valid disability disc, to also allowing individuals in wheelchairs to make use of these parking bays,” explained Newcastle Mall Marketing Manager, Beulah Rajkumar. “The purpose of the disability parking is in fact for wheelchair use and this is the reason the bays are larger than a normal parking bay. We have very clear signage in front of the bays stating that a valid disc needs to be displayed should one make use of these bays.”
According to their records, Mrs Rajkumar claimed the following occurred at about 6.25pm: “Mr Abdool was clamped by mall security with a vehicle that did not display a disability disc at all. He had a passenger that used crutches and claimed he was not using his own vehicle and had borrowed a vehicle from a friend. He claimed that his own vehicle, that did have a valid disc, was at his house. He did, however, pay the R500 fine and said he would approach the press.”
Residents often express their agitation at the apparent disregard for bays reserved for the disabled; this is evident by numerous fervent posts to social media sites.
The quote, ‘You can have my parking space, but take my disability with it’ rings true among the physically challenged. A double-edged sword; a man with an obvious physical disability and a policy that takes no prisoners.
Residents are advised to be respectful of the rules and regulations prohibiting parking in bays reserved for the handicapped, or they may find themselves literally paying the price.
