No sympathy for the elderly
It's a pity the officer didn't have a bit more compassion.
ALEXANDRA Homes for the Aged has been looking after our mothers and fathers for the past 37 years.
Safety and dignity come first at all times and that is all that Neville Petersen was doing on Wednesday morning, March 30, when he was fined R3 000.
Mr Petersen, who is the driver for Alexandra Park, transports residents whenever they need to go bank, shop or visit the doctor.
As the holidays were in full-swing, finding an empty parking bay in Scott Street was difficult and Neville needed to get an ill, elderly man to a doctor.
So he decided to stop at a pedestrian crossing in front of a local bank.
“I was dropping off a frail resident who uses a walker. My hazard warning lights were on, but an officer from Umdoni Protection Services told me to move,” said Mr Petersen.
He tried to explain the situation, but the officer was not interested.
“He told me to park across the road. I said it would be impossible for the man to walk across the road safely with his walker, but the officer merely threatened to have me arrested if I didn’t comply.”
Mr Petersen had no option but to continue to off-load his passenger and the angry officer took action.
“I was fined R500 for obstructing the traffic and then a further R2 500 for failing to comply with the instructions of a traffic officer.
Mr Petersen has been the driver for Alexandra Park for more than 10 years.
About eight years ago, Mr Petersen said that they had applied for a disabled parking bay and wheelchair ramp in front of the pharmacy and doctor’s rooms, but had never had a reply from Umdoni Municipality.
A concerned Councillor Sykes Naidoo made the effort to come into the Mail’s offices to assured that they are now taking the application seriously.
“It is unfortunate that this incident occurred. Arrangements have now been made to allocate a parking bay,” he said. It will be available some time this week.
“What a pity Umdoni Protection Services didn’t have a bit more compassion,” concluded Mr Petersen. “After all – their motto is: ‘Protect and serve’.”
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