Panel approves disc

POLOKWANE – A mother’s battle to obtain a parking disc on behalf of her 16-year-old cerebrally disabled daughter ended last Friday after a meeting with the Disabled Parking Disc Panel.

Review recently reported that the woman’s application for the disc at Centenary House in Penina Park, was denied based on the fact that her daughter was not the driver of a vehicle, but a mere passenger.
According to the mother, even though the daughter does not drive herself, she still struggles to get out of vehicle in an ordinary parking space.
During the presentation of her case recently, the panel assessed the level of the child’s disability before granting the request.
According to Christa van der Walt, provincial director for the Association for Persons with Disabilities (APD), the National Road Traffic Act of 1996 does not specify whether a parking disc, which authorises the use of designated disabled parking, should be issued to only a driver or passenger.
“This is because the fact that the person is a driver or a passenger is not of importance, but what counts is the extent of the person’s disability. This will identify whether a person needs more space for the vehicle’s door to open completely for the person to get out of the vehicle or otherwise,” she said.

Only selected disabled people granted discs