Aggrieved motorists have expressed their frustration over a lack of enough parking space in Pretoria CBD in the wake of the City of Tshwane’s report that the metro generated an increased revenue of R2 million in one month through impounding nearly 1 000 vehicles for parking illegally.
MMC for Community Safety, Grandi Theunissen, commended the drive to tow vehicles by the Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD), saying it was “the significant improvements in both the efficiency and effectiveness of its vehicle impounding operations”.
Many motorists, however, took to social media to criticise the City’s way of generating revenue by towing vehicles even though there are not enough parking bays in the inner-city.
One of them said: “Where should they park because the city is overcrowded and there's no parking? Fix the taxi issue. Almost all the parking bays on busy areas are occupied by mini buses and you don't have a solution, rather you play mind games because you have the authority. Menlyn has fixed their issue, fix yours?”
Others slammed the municipality for a “bad way of generating money” by making motorists whose vehicles have been impounded to retrieve them at the cost of at least R2 700.
Theunissen said the City impounded 917 vehicles last month as compared to 270 and 357 impounded vehicles in May and June, respectively.
He said the exercise resulted in an increased revenue of R2m for July.
“Additional storage fees are levied against all impounded vehicles that are not immediately collected by their owners, thus contributing to increased revenue,”he said.
He said there has been a marked decrease to complaints regarding conduct of TMPD officials previously accused of corruption by asking motorists to pay cash in order for their vehicles to be released.
In 2022, two TMPD officers were reported to the Hawks by a woman who was asked to pay R1 200 to get her impounded vehicle kept at a municipal pound on Madiba street.
Theunissen said the reduction in grievances reflected the positive impact of the TMPD’s focus on accountability, transparency and professionalism.
“By fostering a culture of responsibility and high standards among staff, the pound now operates with greater integrity,”he said.
He cautioned motorists not to park in loading zones, bus lanes and no-parking areas.
“They are also warned not to listen to informal car guards who might attempt to have them (motorists) park in these areas regardless, as these informal car guards are quick to disappear once the TMPD tow truck arrives,”he said.
He said payment for towed vehicles cannot be made at the pound, but at TMPD offices on 11 Francis Baard Street in Pretoria Central.
Motorists who suspect that their vehicle has been towed can phone TMPD pound on 012 358 5917 or the regional control room on 012 358 1906.
Pretoria News