Manyoni hails new car parking system

Under the new system drivers will pay R190 to park at Fontein Street every month, daily parking will be R43 and the first hour will cost motorists R2.10 to park

“We are going to bring law and order into the Bloemfontein CBD by bringing parking marshals and new parking systems into the picture.”

This was said by Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality (MMM) mayor, Thabo Manyoni, during the launch of the city’s Parking Marshal System on Wednesday.  Manyoni said the parking system will begin operating as soon as possible to ensure that there is law in order on the CBD the roads.

He said the new system will also reduce the number of car jackings.

According to Manyoni, the old metres which stood by the road side proved ineffective with people inserting illegal coins in them.

“To alleviate this, we have trained a number of car guards who will act as security officials on our roads,” said Manyoni.

Manyoni said there are 110 marshals, 56 of them will be deployed in Bloemfontein.

“The second phase of this programme will be launched in Thaba Nchu and Botshabelo area where the remaining marshals will be employed.”

Under the new system drivers will pay R190 to park at Fontein Street every month, daily parking will be R43 and the first hour will be R2.10 to park.

Manyoni said the marshals will inform motorists of the parking period, the tariff amounts and issue them with receipts.

The marshals were issued with certificates after completing their training at the Bram Fischer building. Thabo Tseki, one of the newly qualified car guards, is elated about the opportunity.

After attending classes for three days together with others, Tseki said he gained a lot of knowledge from what he had been taught.

“They taught us how to use scanning machines and gave us important lessons on how to communicate with the drivers of the cars. They also told us about basic hygiene and encouraged us not to smoke in front of the clients,” said Tseki.

Tseki said it was the first time in his life that he ever received a certificate.

“I am also hopeful that this certificate will give me an opportunity to gain better opportunities elsewhere.”

Another car guard, Lebohang Kgooe, said his life turned for the worst when his parents died before he could even finish grade 12. Kgooe was introduced to the car guarding course by a friend.

“Before car guarding, we were drinking, involved in countless fights with a lot of people and there was a lot of smoking as well. With the new uniforms and jobs now, it will force us to be more disciplined,” said Kgooe.

He has pleaded with motorists to cooperate with them.

“I just hope that the treatment we received from drivers and passengers will change. Some treat us horribly and mind you, we look after their cars and they then come back and give us R1. It’s a struggle but we try to make it work.”