Inner CBD on-street parking free for now

POLOKWANE – On-street parking within the CBD will be free of charge until further notice, after the services of the contractor who was responsible for the management of this facility has been terminated by Polokwane Municipality.

The municipality confirmed in a media release that Parkpoint has been served with a court order which prevents the company from continuing with parking management on behalf of the local authority as of last Thursday.

“The court order prevents the company or any of its agents from operating, managing parking and collecting revenue from motorists within the city,” municipal spokesperson Matshidiso Mothapo explained.

Mothapo urged motorists not to give the company’s representatives money as payment for parking and stated that this arrangement will remain in force until further notice.

The on-street parking management system was introduced towards the end of November 2019 and motorists had to pay R8 per hour or part thereof from 08:00 until 17:00 on weekdays and on Saturdays from 08:00 until 13:00 with free parking on Sundays. The project was implemented in phases with the first phase between Grobler and Bodenstein streets on Landdros Maré, Schoeman and Hans van Rensburg streets.

When the system was introduced, the municipality indicated that the latest hand-held technology will be used and that trained marshals will guide motorists on the use of the system that will record the duration of parking, location and details of the vehicle.

“On-street parking is not a new concept and has proven to end parking chaos as it provides easy access to businesses, makes it safer for motorists, enables efficient and fair usage of street space,” the municipality claimed and added that the project further provides job opportunities.

The greater percentage of motorists were not very enthusiastic about this intervention and the perception has not changed.

“The parking fee of R8 per hour is exorbitant and it is also unfair to expect motorists to stand and wait outside their cars while the parking marshals are busy attending to other motorists as they are serving more than 10 parking bays at the same time,” an irate motorist remarked.

Some motorists were, however, prepared to give the system a chance. “It creates a turnover of parking spaces because motorists can not park for long periods, denying others access to businesses. It is also a source of income for the municipality and creates job opportunities,” another motorist said.

The municipality declined the opportunity to comment further and indicated that the matter is currently sub judice.