Metered parking plan hits pothole

A new business deal that will change the system of metered parking in congested, lawless King Sabata Dalindyebo CBD is being devised by municipal bosses – and is already under fire from opposition parties, who say it was not placed before the council.

It was claimed last week that cameras record more than 2,000 traffic law transgressions in the Mthatha CBD every day.

On Friday, city bosses unveiled a new R120m municipal fleet and transport strategy, which includes a road-fixing plant, water tankers to respond to fire emergencies and the new metered parking system

At the event, Mthatha businessman Sakhele Skenjana revealed that Mikros/Calabash Ventures had been contracted by the municipality to implement a paid parking and traffic management system in the town. Skenjana is the director of Calabash while Mikros is based in KwaZulu-Natal.

Skenjana said: “Our cameras record over 2,000 road transgressions on the roads in Mthatha on a daily basis.”

Four years ago, the Daily Dispatch reported that Tshwane-based Park Point Ltd had been contracted to institute a parking system which would see motorists paying for parking in town.

But less than a year into its contract, the company upped and left, claiming it was running at a loss because motorists were refusing to pay for parking. The municipality did not respond to a request for comment. Skenjana said the partnership with the municipality would last three years but declined to reveal financial details.

DA councillor Raymond Knock, and UDM councillor Mabandla Gogo said the new parking system had never been brought before the council.

‘Our cameras record over 2,000 road transgressions [in Mthatha daily]’ Sakhele Skenjana DIRECTOR OF CALABASH