Cape Town’s Ndabeni vehicle impound lot will be upgraded in a R7,5 million project.
The pound is one of two City-owned facilities where impounded vehicles are stored.
The Safety and Security Directorate received additional funding through the City’s Adjustment Budget and set aside R7, 5 million for the Ndabeni vehicle impound expansion, which is due to be completed by end June 2019.
Currently the carrying capacity for the pound is at 400 vehicles, the upgrade will increase capacity to 750 vehicles.
Phase one of the project includes the construction of a paved area with demarcated parking bays, the installation of a stormwater drainage system and high mast lighting.
“The Ndabeni pound has historically been used for private vehicles that have been left abandoned, while impounded public transport vehicles have been kept in the Maitland pound. The high number of confiscations means that we do not have sufficient space, and so going forward the additional capacity at Ndabeni will be used to store taxis too,” said Mayco Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith.
Between 1 January and 14 March 2019, the Cape Town Traffic Service had:
• impounded 678 minibus, minibus and sedan taxis
• 495 for drivers operating without a permit
• 183 for operating contrary to the conditions of their permits
• released 702 taxis that had been impounded
Smith said very few drivers are deterred by the spikes in impoundment release fee for repeat offenders.
He said impounding vehicles on a temporary basis was ineffective.
“I still believe that a three-strike system that results in permanent confiscation will have drivers singing a different tune altogether – and not just in the public transport sector,” said Smith.
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