RESIDENTS of Mohawk Street are still concerned about the amount of vehicles parked in the yards of nine residents who are reportedly operating airport parking businesses.
“These are the people that collect vehicles from customers at the airport, and then ‘safely’ park them until the owner gets back,” said one of the nearby residents.
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According to Fanie du Plessis, a Rhodesfield resident for 42 years, this is not a recent problem. He claims that he has been taking up the matter with the municipality for the last 10 years.
“In the first place I do not believe that these businesses are registered or legal and it is a concern to our safety as well. Secondly, I am convinced that the vehicle owners also do not know where his/her car is parked because that detail is never discussed,” said du Plessis. “The people who entrust their vehicles to these so-called businesses do not know the conditions in which their vehicles are parked. It is unsafe and attracts criminals.”
DA ward councilor, Tracey Butler replied:
In a council meeting some months ago the Executive Mayor, Mondli Gungubele, called me ignorant when I was trying to bring to his attention some of the problems facing the areas surrounding the Aerotropolis that he is trying to build.
The Democratic Alliance fully supports the emergence of legal small businesses. Therefore I will need to investigate which businesses comply with the law and possess the required permits. It is important for the businesses operating in this area to have the necessary permits because this allows the Metro to consider the environmental, traffic and social impacts these businesses may have on that particular area.
I will also request that the relevant departments pay a visit to the area and fine the businesses that are operating illegally.
In a well-run Metro the proper rules should be followed which would take all the important factors into account and ensure that businesses do not thrive at the expense of the residents who also need to use the roads in that area.
