The parking area around the Claremont Town Hall is patrolled by the most voracious parking attendants known to man or woman. These “outsourced” soldiers of fortune have as their chief victims the pensioners who regularly use the building's public library.
After a pleasant hour or so, selecting books or perusing newspapers and periodicals, the victim returns to his or her car to fend off the parking attendant, clamouring to be paid R4.34 per 15 minutes or multiples thereof.
My last Saturday morning’s parking bill of R17.55, far larger than any library fine I have ever incurred, quite took the shine off my morning’s literary activity. The librarians on duty were in total agreement that the parking charges have become unreasonable and the system, “outsourced” system as it is, bears close examination.
Who are these parking area entrepreneurs who seem to be able to set their own rates and then employ attendants on a percentage of the takings basis?
The latter is the only explanation for the ruthless dedication with which these attendants pursue their livelihood. Perhaps the system operates in the vicinity of most Cape libraries?
It would be good to have a comment from on this situation by some authority figure in the provincial library service.