Paid parking toll is not ‘fine’
Community activist and retired businessman, Gert Smith has declared the entire system ‘unconstitutional’ and wants it removed, saying the community was never properly consulted about the new parking meter by-laws, nor was it adequately engaged on how the new parking meter system works.
No fines have been issued to motorists who fail to pay for a parking in the CBD, since the parking meter system was implemented on July 1… But this is soon to change.
Once the court’s Senior Magistrate makes a final determination on the penalty proposed by the municipality’s Traffic Department, a fine of R300 could be imposed on motorists who fail to purchase a parking ticket.
The startling number of empty parking spaces available in a CBD, which is usually bustling with activity, has made business people apprehensive about the knock in sales due to customers circumventing the CBD to avoid paying for parking. Numerous individuals, business people and civic rights organisations are circulating petitions to have the entire Parking Management System scrapped.
While the effect on business is a common concern among all those opposed to the system, it is the lack of public engagement which most irks them.
One of the most active organisations opposed to the system is the Moonlight Business Hub, which rallied the support of the protestors who recently marched to the Newcastle Municipality.
Advocate, Mzwandile Simelane said he had already collected more than 1 500 signatures for the petition against the paid parking system.
“When businesses experience a decrease in sales, they start to retrench staff.
“How can the municipality boast about a parking system that creates employment for 70 people, when that same system has cost 7 000 people their jobs?” said Adv Simelane.
Community activist and retired businessman, Gert Smith has declared the entire system ‘unconstitutional’ and wants it removed, saying the community was never properly consulted about the new parking meter by-laws, nor was it adequately engaged on how the new parking meter system works.
A poorly attended public information meeting, called a week before the roll-out of the system, did not constitute a proper public consultation process according to Mr Smith, who successfully argued in court for the removal of the parking meter system ten years ago.
“Taking money from the public for a parking meter system, when people don’t even know how the system works, is fraud.
“I don’t know how the system works. Nobody knows. Go to the street and ask anyone you find, ‘How the system works?’ I guarantee you, they won’t know,” added Smith.
“If it takes an interdict, we will get an interdict. This system has never been explained to the public.”
ALSO READ: Free parking in the CBD now a thing of the past
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