Manzini City: How to Avoid Having Your Vehicle Clamped
Like many other cities globally, the City of Manzini has a set of rules that guide issues of vehicle parking in the city centre. For one reason or the other, some motorists have had their vehicles clamped while parked in the city centre and further had to pay a certain fee for the release of the vehicles. Today’s article seeks to highlight practices that result in vehicles being clamped. The ultimate goal is to minimize or eradicate such unwanted occurrences in the city. This subject matter is even more relevant as we approach the festive season and traffic volumes will be massive in the Hub of Eswatini.
- DO NOT PARK ON SPACES THAT ARE UNDESIGNATED FOR PARKING
It is advisable that motorists always use spaces that are designated for parking. The city’s paid parking zone, which is identifiable by a green marking on the parking bays, is always monitored and any vehicle that is found to be in violation of parking rules gets clamped. Such spaces as yellow lines, pedestrian crossings, walkways (commonly referred to as pavements), driveways into properties as well as reserved spaces such as taxi bays, loading zones and disabled persons’ parking are not to be occupied by unauthorized vehicles. When caught, the vehicle gets clamped and to have it released, one is required to pay E80.
- DOUBLE PARKING IS NOT PERMITTED
Double parking is not permitted in the City of Manzini. Motorists are urged to ensure their vehicles do not overlap onto the next parking bay. This will help them avoid their vehicles being clamped. However, double parking is permitted for heavy duty vehicles, such as delivery trucks, because they require more than one parking bay. However, they are required to pay for all the occupied parking bays.
- ALWAYS PAY FOR PARKING WHEN ON PAID PARKING ZONE
Motorists are urged to always be prepared to pay for parking when intending to park in the paid parking zone. Whenever one comes across a parking bay that has a green marking on the side, it means it is a paid parking bay. To park a vehicle one needs to pay. According to the instrument (Government Gazette) that approves paid parking in the City of Manzini, the motorist is required to pay to the nearest parking marshal before alighting from the vehicle. When using Umlamuleli prepaid parking card (which is accessible from parking marshals), the parking fee is 42 cents per 5 minutes parking. When paying in cash, the parking fee is E2.50 per 30 minutes parking. In the event that the parking bay is occupied for a period longer than that paid for, the motorist is required to settle the excess parking fees before exiting the parking bay. This helps avoid the accumulation of unpaid/owing fees. Vehicles that occupy a parking pay 2 hours after the lapse of the parking period paid for risk being clamped. Again, vehicles that park within the paid parking zone before 8am are required to exit the parking bay (after payment of the due parking fees) before the lapse of 2 hours after 8am. Continued occupation of the parking bay beyond 2 hours after 8am is most likely to attract clamping. The best way to avoid clamping is to get back to the vehicle and pay before the lapse of 2 hours.
- AVOID ACCUMULATION OF UNPAID PARKING FEES
It is always advisable to check with the parking marshal whether or not one’s vehicle has an accumulation of unpaid parking fees. The parking marshal will check for you free of charge. Whenever a vehicle has an accumulation of unpaid fees, the motorist is given a written notice, advising them to settle the fees owing. After issuance of the fourth notice with the debt not having been cleared, the vehicle is most likely to be clamped. Experience shows that motorists often do not give attention to the written notices. They only react once the vehicle has been clamped. It is advisable that at the first instance of issuance of an unpaid fees notice against one’s vehicle, the owner clears the bill. If the motorist disputes the owing fees, there is room to appeal. It is advisable that the appeal be made in writing within the warning period (1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th unpaid fee notice) instead of doing so when the vehicle has already been clamped. It is also advisable that a dispute against owing fees is officially registered instead of only complaining to the parking marshal. Disputes against unpaid fees can be registered either by email (admin@eswatiniparking.co.sz), WhatsApp, SMS or phone (7698 6010), or Eswatini Parking Facebook page (Eswatini Parking). In the event that a motorist feels that they have been badly treated by a parking marshal, they are urged to report them through the same phone number or by email (customercare@eswatiniparking.co.sz). The Municipal Council of Manzini wishes motorists an exciting and incident-free parking experience in the city during and beyond the festive season.
…MUNICIPALITY SENSITIZES AUTOMOBILE GARAGES ON HEALTH, SAFETY
The Municipal Council of Manzini has observed a number of irregular practices amongst automobile garages in the city’s light industrial area. These include improper disposal of used oil and other waste material, lack of waste receptacles resulting in indiscriminate littering within their premises, fixing of vehicles on walkways instead of containing all activities within the premises as well as improper care for health and safety of employees working in those businesses. These practices are in contrast with Goal Number 11 of the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (Sustainable Cities and Communities) whose target is, amongst others, “reducing the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management”. They are also in conflict with the city regulations in as far as health and safety in the workplace as well as protection of the environment is concerned. Improper disposal of waste harms the environment as the oil spillages get washed away to the nearby rivers and also has the potential to pollute the water table as the hazardous liquid waste sips into the ground surface. Offenders, according to the country’s environmental laws, are supposed to be fined heavily for such practices. However, the Municipal Council of Manzini has deemed it appropriate to start by rolling out an educational campaign amongst all automobile garages in the city. The educational exercise commenced last week and is still ongoing. The messages that are disseminated during the campaigns include issues of proper waste management and disposal, occupational health and safety, workplace hazards, safety gear, responsibilities of an employer towards contributing to health of an employee as well as legislation that governs occupational health.