Blog

You Can Now Pay as Little as 42 cents For Parking in Manzini

This is applicable only if you buy Umlamuleli Prepaid Parking Card. Card also allows motorists to park in different parking bays with a single payment

In an effort to improve motorists’ paid parking experience in the City of Manzini, the Municipal Council of Manzini, together with service provider Eswatini Parking, has reviewed the applicable fee structure. As a result of the review, with effect from Monday 21^st September 2020, motorists will have the option to pay as little as 42 cents for five minutes parking in the city and 84 cents for 10 minutes parking. Moreover, the new arrangement will make it possible for motorists to park on different parking bays with a single payment. However, only customers that are using the Umlamuleli Prepaid Parking Card will enjoy this new arrangement which is mostly useful to short-time parkers.

The gazetted parking fee in the City of Manzini remains at E5 per hour. Therefore, when a motorist occupies a parking bay, they will be required to pay a minimum of E5; which will be loaded into the Umlamuleli Prepaid Parking Card. The payment will give the motorist E5 worth of paid parking credit (or whatever amount paid) that they can use to park anywhere within the green zone. The green zone is identifiable by a green marking along the parking bay. Upon occupation of a parking bay, the motorist will be required to present the Umlamuleli Prepaid Parking Card to the parking marshal, indicating the period of time that the vehicle will be parked. It will be incumbent upon the motorist to ensure that they do not occupy the parking bay beyond the paid for parking time.

In the event that the vehicle occupies the parking bay longer than the paid for time, the motorist will be required to return to the parking marshal and buy more parking time through re-tapping of the Umlamuleli Prepaid Parking Card. Alternatively, they will be allowed to pay for the excess time spent in the parking bay upon return to the vehicle and before exiting the parking bay. Failure to pay for excess parking time will result in an accumulation of outstanding parking fees against the vehicle. Vehicles with outstanding parking fees will not be permitted to occupy another parking bay before settlement of the outstanding funds. Failure to settle outstanding fees will result in vehicle clamping.

Settlement of outstanding fees need not necessarily be in the form of cash but the Umlamuleli Prepaid Card can be utilised and no additional costs will be suffered by the customer. It is important that motorists from time to time check the credit balance on their Umlamuleli Prepaid Parking Card with any of the parking marshals so that they can be able to plan for the next recharge. With the Umlamuleli Prepaid Parking Card the credit does not expire. Therefore, it can be utilised any time. It is, however, important that the card be kept in a safe place so that it is not easily stolen.  After the 31^st October 2020, the minimum payable fee for the Umlamuleli Prepaid Parking Card will be E30; and will still come with parking credit worth the full amount of E30.

Even though discouraged because the Municipality aspires for a cashless parking experience in the city, motorists that prefer to pay in cash will be allowed to do so. However, they will have to pay E2.50 per 30 minutes parking (or part thereof) or E5 per one hour. With cash payment, the paid for parking time will unfortunately not be transferable to other parking bays.  Paid parking resumed last week Tuesday in the City of Manzini following a five months Covid-19 break. The resumption of the operation has been rolled out incrementally since last week Tuesday and today all the streets in the green zone (paid parking zone) have been covered. Parking marshals have been trained about the Covid-19 preventative practices and will be monitored to ensure compliance. Motorists who had credit on their Umlamuleli Prepaid Parking Card before the Covid-19 break will be able to use their credit balances.

…HOW MUCH MOTORISTS WILL PAY WHEN USING PARKING CARD

The following parking fee structure will apply to motorists that will use the Umlamuleli Prepaid Parking Card which is already accessible from parking marshals;

1. 0-5 mins= 42 cents
2. ii) 5-10 mins= 84 cents
3. 10-15 mins= 125 cents
4. iv) 15-30 mins = E2.50
5. v) 30-45 mins = E3.75
6. v) 45 mins- 1hour = E5
    

…ADVANTAGES OF USING UMLAMULELI PREPAID CARD

1. a) Allows motorists to park in different parking bays with a single payment (it is transferrable)
2. b) The motorist will pay only for the period of time parked (with a minimum charge of E0.42 per interval)
3. c) It is good for short time parkers
4. e) The credit balance on the card does not expire. It can be utilised any other day and the customer will be allowed to recharge it any time. Credit top-up will be allowed even before credit on the card is depleted.
5. f) Allows for social distancing. (Zero or minimal contact with parking marshal).

…FOR MORE INFORMATION OR ENQUIRIES

Customers who require more information about the new parking arrangements may contact Eswatini Parking through any of the following means;

• Dial or WhatsApp  7698 6010
• Download Eswatini Parking App on Google Play Store (eswatiniparking.com) and navigate the App. It has a provision for customer enquiries.
• Search and like ‘Eswatini Parking Facebook page’ and register your query

Or alternatively contact the Municipal Council of Manzini on 2508 5000