UPDATE: Stanger says no to pay parking

Frustrated Stanger residents took to blocking the main streets of the town on Saturday morning in protest at the municipality’s new pay parking system.

The system, which came into effect on November 1, will see motorists in Stanger, Ballito, Umhlali and Shakaskraal fork out R6 an hour to park in public bays.

However, the scheme has so far only been implemented in Stanger due to the service provider, Vusa Isipho Trading Enterprises, still being in the process of recruiting marshalls.

Calling the system flawed and unfair, the outraged residents drove in a slow procession from Stanger Manor to the CBD.

A convoy of cars blocked traffic on Albert Luthuli and Mahatma Gandhi Street where a memorandum was handed to Tarzan Naiker, an official from the KwaDukuza mayor’s office as mayor Ricardo Mthembu was unavailable.

For more article on the pay parking system click HERE

A second memorandum was handed to the service provider, who did not accept the document.

Glenhills Civic Association chairperson Rishi Pooran said the overall system was unlawful.

“How can a third party scan your disc and capture confidential information, let alone the fact that the public was not consulted about this? The municipality said the parking system was passed in 2011, but the item should have been tabled again in the new term. A lot has changed in five years including the councillors. We want the mayor to respond to our memorandum.”

A memorandum was handed to a KDM representative as the mayor was unavailable @nccourier #payparking pic.twitter.com/R01IAPzzAe

— Erica Abrahams (@eri_abrahams) November 4, 2017

Pooran said the parking system was misleading as people are not charged per an hour, they are charged per bay. He also accused the service provider of being a greedy organisation and using the
town for personal gain.

“If I park for less than an hour in one bay and I drive to another bay in the CBD, I will be charged again. Many people have experienced faults with the device already and residents witnessed the marshalls and car guards fighting on the main road.”

The memorandum demanded that the service provider withdraw their services from the municipality until a solution is found and that marshalls be withdrawn immediately.

It demanded that Mayor Mthembu address the public by November 8 or face legal action. The municipality is apparently taking 30 percent of the funds made by the system while the service provider will be allocated 70 percent.

However, a KDM representative present at the protest said the memorandum could not be accepted by the service provider nor could the demands, as they are only doing what the municipality tasked them to do. The marshalls resumed duty on Monday.

Meanwhile, in Ballito and Umhlali, ratepayers have called for the system to be boycotted due to the lack of public participation.

No concessions have been made for full-time employees, which has staff in the Ballito business centres and Umhlali Villiage outraged at having to pay about R960 a month.

Ballito resident and attorney, Dr Daniel Basch said he was astounded that councillors were not aware of the correct consultation process and did not call the municipality out on it.

Traffic is backed up on Mahatma Ghandi St. Protesters are handing over a memorandum to the service provider#payparking @nccourier pic.twitter.com/NuE1XsBN3w

— Erica Abrahams (@eri_abrahams) November 4, 2017

“As a resident of Ballito this is annoying. I facilitate legal processes all over South Africa on the Public Finance Management Act, the Municipal Management Finance Act as well as the National Development Plan. The basic principle is that the municipality is obligated to take into account the interests and concerns of the residents when it crafts by-laws, policy and implements its programmes and to communicate with the community regarding its activities.”

However, DA chief whip in Ilembe, Malcolm Hubner said the municipality claimed the parking system was listed in the tariff of charges document.

“The document, which is a stack of pages, is usually compiled at the beginning of the year and lists the charges that will be implemented throughout the year. This charge is listed under the heading parking management system and placed at public libraries where people can read it and object. People do not usually go through the entire document but this is what the municipality is using in their defence.”

The Dolphin Coast Ratepayers and Residents Association has called for a boycott until the municipality consults properly with the public. An online petition has gathered more than 2000 signatures.

KDM media liaison Sipho Mkhize said all allocated locations will have marshalls in the course of this week. He said the technical glitches with the parking devices would be fixed as the service provider is in the process of reprogramming the software.

>>  Ready to say ‘I Do’ on the Dolphin Coast? Meet the team ready to advise, help and deliver on your big day.

>>  Visit our Education feature for a collection of all the best schools, tutoring systems, and even some colleges and training facilities on the North Coast.

Do you want to receive news alerts via WhatsApp? Send us a WhatsApp message (not an sms) with your name and surname to 061 718 4438.

Please read our WhatsApp broadcast list disclaimer.
Join us on BBM at 59015786
Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram