What really happens to abandoned cars at SA's airports
Abandoned cars are becoming an issue at airports across South Africa.
Seeing seemingly abandoned, dust-covered cars at South African airports is not uncommon.
Many vehicles are left in airport parking lots for weeks, months, or even years as owners abandon them, leaving the airport to deal with the responsibility.
According to TopAuto, this is a growing problem across South African airports.
Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) recently revealed that approximately 30 abandoned cars are parked at Cape Town International Airport, and between 40 and 50 are parked at OR Tambo International Airport.
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The biggest question when spotting these abandoned cars is: how are they dealt with?
Mpho Maluleka, key account manager of ground transport at ACSA, explained that cars are often abandoned at airports when owners decide not to return to South Africa after leaving the country.
In other cases, cars might have been stolen, and thieves use airport parking to store the vehicles while they "lay low" for a while.
"We actually don't have a time limit for vehicles to park in our space, because the longer the car is parked, the more revenue we make, so we are not that strict when it comes to parking," said Maluleka.
"We only see the vehicle after some time, that this looks like it is abandoned. The way you saw it, that is the way we also see it."
If airport staff spot an unattended car, they report it to the parking office.
The office then shares the vehicle's details with the South African Police, traffic authorities, and banks to determine if the car is linked to a crime, financed with outstanding payments, or if the owner can be traced.
Here's how abandoned cars are dealt with:
- If the car is still being financed and payments are overdue, the bank has the right to repossess it.
- If the airport contacts the owner, they will need to confirm whether they plan to return to South Africa. If not, discussions are held on what to do with the vehicle.
- If the owner cannot be found, the bank has no claim, and the car is not wanted by authorities, it remains in place.
Maluleka explained that ACSA cannot remove or claim ownership of any vehicle, regardless of how long it has been parked.
"As ACSA we do not have a right to possess or take this vehicle, so for now, we are still busy drafting a policy that will advise us as to where are we going to take them to, or what are we going to do with them," said Maluleka.
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Some cars have been parked at ACSA airports since 2018. Not all vehicles are abandoned, as some belong to owners who return after long periods abroad.
Maluleka noted instances where cars remained in parking garages for over a year before their owners returned. These cars often need jumpstarting, tyre inflation, or battery charging.
Owners also face hefty parking bills. One individual owed nearly R80,000 and had to set up a repayment plan with ACSA to reclaim their vehicle.
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