AS motorists face another hike at the petrol pumps on Wednesday, the going is to get even tougher for local residents who will have to fork out more to park their vehicles in the City of uMhlathuze.
A full Council resolved on Thursday to start install parking metres throughout the City’s urban areas from 1 April (tomorrow).
According to the report, the City would eventually benefit in terms of revenue collection in the region of R500 000 a day from 5 000 parking metres stationed in Richards Bay and Empangeni.
The tariff will be R5 an hour.
City Mayor Elphas Mbatha said the decision was in line with other urban metropoles such as eThekwini, Cape Town and Johannesburg.
‘The municipality has invested a lot of money in designated parking areas, so it is only fitting we increase our revenue base,’ said Mbatha.
However, Councillors slammed the item, adding that there was no public participation process and the majority of motorists would not be able to afford the parking tariffs.
‘This might be a good long-term option, but for now the relevant processes have not taken place and we will see a public outcry,’ said Cllr Louis Fourie.
Despite the ranting from opposition parties, a majority vote saw the item being approved with motorists already criticising the move.
‘This is ludicrous. The parking bays in the City have not been regularly maintained and now we are expected to pay for this. We will protest this decision,’ said Ward 2 resident, C Mackenzie.
