Wernhil, Maerua parking machines reject new notes

Parking payment machines at Windhoek’s Wernhil Shopping Centre and Maerua Mall are not accepting some of the recently introduced Namibian banknotes and coins, leaving customers struggling to pay for parking.

This has sparked frustration from customers, who say they should not be inconvenienced because automated parking systems have not been updated to recognise the new money.

However, Wernhil Park and Maerua Mall owners say upgrading the machines can be costly, depending on the infrastructure and technology used at each property.

Oryx Properties spokesperson PJ Bergh tells The Namibian that Maerua Mall has had challenges with accepting the new banknotes.

Bergh says the issue was linked to software updates required for parking systems to recognise the new notes, particularly on older machines.

“The range of replacement can be anything from N$5 million to N$10 million for five to 10 machines, depending on the number of booms and entrances you have or what sort of technology is built in. It can even be more,” he says.

He says most new notes were already accepted at Maerua Mall, including card payments, but the mall has recently experienced difficulties with the new N$10 note.

“We have had issues in the last couple of weeks with regards to the N$10 note, which apparently needs to go back to the factory with new settings. I’m not sure if it was the type of paper or how it is scanned, but it goes back for a software update,” Bergh says.

He says the update would be rolled out to other Oryx Properties.

He adds that shopping centres needed to ensure their systems worked efficiently to avoid frustrating customers.

“From a shopping centre perspective, it is important to make sure that we create an experience for customers where they don’t have frustrations with things like the parking management system,” Bergh says.

He criticises the lack of advance communication before new banknotes are introduced, saying businesses are often forced to react after the notes are already in circulation.

OL Wernhil Park owners spokesperson Carmen Maartens says: “Broll Namibia is aware that the current parking payment machines at Wernhil Shopping Centre are not always accepting the new Namibian banknotes and coins.”

She says Wernhil Shopping Centre has already initiated the replacement of the current parking system.

“The old system will be replaced with a new, upgraded solution. The procurement process has been completed, and the new system has been ordered,” she says.

The Wernhil owners say once implemented, “the new technology-driven system will offer enhanced functionality and a broader range of payment options, including credit and debit card payments”.

Maartens says this includes selected app-based payments and cash payments.

A regular Wernhil customer, Ida Erasmus, told The Namibian on Thursday that customers should not be inconvenienced because parking machines have not been updated to accept the new bank notes.

“It is the business people who are supposed to see to it that we can trade with that money that is printed,” Erasmus said.

She said businesses using automated payment systems should make alternative arrangements while upgrading their machines.

“If they have any kind of machines that are not working or not compatible with the latest money the government printed, then they must make a plan,” she said.

Erasmus suggested that Wernhil should temporarily deploy staff to assist customers with parking payments until the issue is resolved.

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