A business owner in Second Street, who wishes not to be named, does not like the idea of the doctors having special parking.
He feels it is unfair to the rest of the business owners and that they can also then mark their parking bays in front of their premises.
According to EMPD spokesman Superintendent Vusi Mabanga, exceptional parking bays for doctors are commonly acceptable at hospitals and clinics, but not on public roads.
“Special parking bays for ambulances and disabled people are accommodated for special parking bays, this does not included doctors,” says Supt Mabanga.
Dr Abdul Karim, who is one of the doctors with the marked parking bays, says he took over the practice 12 years ago and found the marked parking bays as is.
“I know the law and didn’t go out there to paint the parking myself,” he says, adding that as far as he knows, the previous doctor applied for two marked parking bays at the municipality years ago and they approved the application.
Fellow practitioner Dr Lloyd Maduwane says he also found the parking bays already marked with yellow paint when he started his practice in Third Street two months ago.
Dr Karim adds these parking bays are convenient for disabled patients and when an ambulance is needed in case of emergencies.
Supt Mabanga says that the precinct commander has been notified of the parking and that he will investigate the doctors’ claims further.
“The outcome will be made known to the Advertiser in due course,” he says.
Despite the metro being contacted three weeks ago and asked to investigate and comment on the matter, seeing as the old Springs council was supposed to have given permission for these marked parking bays, they failed to comment at the time of going to print.
