Disabled parking not for the disabled

Frustrated Fred White from Roodepoort writes:

On Friday 22 August at 10.33am, my daughter and I visited Westgate Shopping Centre and we attempted to park in the area reserved for the disabled. I am 91-years-old with problems walking and my daughter is an amputee and uses a wheelchair.

The nine parking pays at Entrance 2 reserved for the disabled were all occupied. This also happens elsewhere.

Only one vehicle had a parking permit displayed permitting the vehicle to park but there was no sign of anyone disabled.

The vehicle in question, a commercial one, was unloading and delivering stock. To receive authority to park in restricted areas one needs a medical certificate and an official permit from the JMPD. Not one purchased over the counter.

At the same time, we visited a local store and found two till points operating with lengthy queues with negative action to complaints from myself and others.

It was altogether an unpleasant shopping experience.

We must not blame the car guards because I have seen motorists not only ignore them when they are told the area is restricted but they have been down right rude.

“I am not saying these claims are untrue, I think it is merely impossible as we have car guards and we demarcate parking bays for the disabled which is closely monitored. Whenever a car guard finds themselves in a situation that is beyond their control, they report it and I have not receive complaints from them yet.”

– Fundo Gxaba, Operations Manager at Westgate Mall.