[Image: Flickr]
Let’s not sugar-coat it — airport parking prices can feel like you’re being mugged in broad daylight, only the thief wears a high-vis vest and hands you a receipt.
Someone over at IOL confessed to staying in the short-term parking lot at Cape Town International for ten whole days. They said dropping off their husband turned into a trip with him, which in turn became a long-term parking nightmare, having to stare down the rates like they personally insulted their bank balance after a spontaneous jaunt.
Naturally, they panicked and quickly got creative, walking up to the attendants to spin a tall tale about losing the original 10-day parking ticket. Even though lost tickets cost some, you still pay a fraction of what is owed for days on end. A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do.
Turns out they’re not the only ones side-eyeing the parking rates.
@drthomasmukala1♬ Risas – Victor Beatrd
TikTok user @drthomasmukala1 went viral for showing a R2500 parking bill at OR Tambo after 10 days. Ja, TWO-FIVE-ZERO-ZERO. South Africans were not okay. The comment section turned into a group therapy session for the financially traumatised:
@Rita: “Next time come and park at my house, I also need this money.”
@Being Goci: “Report the car as stolen then tip the police that it was last seen there – bazakuthathela.”
@Monareng_Monareng: “Check the vehicle that just parked, wait for an hour, then use its details to pay for a lost ticket.”
@Patrick Henrique: “OR Tambo parking lot makes more money than the actual flights.”
Brilliant. Illegal. Iconic.
But before you get any funny ideas (or end up explaining yourself to security while holding a fake ticket), here’s what you should know if you’re planning to outwit the parking gods.
Smart Ways to Park at South African Airports
Yes, the costs are steep, but there are ways to park without selling a kidney.
Pre-booking is your best friend. ACSA (Airports Company South Africa) lets you reserve parking through their mobile app. And if you’re a planner, you could save up to 60%. That’s basically winning the parking lotto.
Here’s the lowdown on rates across the major airports:
Cape Town International
Short-Stay (Car Park 4):
- 1 Hour: R18
- 4 Hours: R65
- 12 Hours: R118
- 24 Hours: R160
Long-Stay (P5):
- Days 1–4: R150/day
- Day 5 onwards: R65/day
OR Tambo International (Jozi)
Short-Term (Parkade 1 Basement):
- 3–4 Hours: R80
- 4–12 Hours: R200
- 12–24 Hours: R230
Long-Term (Valet Airport Parking Services):
- 1 Day: R150
- 5 Days: R495
- 10 Days: R715 (yes, that’s your R2500 TikTok moment right there if you skip the planning)
King Shaka International (Durban)
Daily Parking:
- R95/day, then R65 per 12 hours
Multiparking:
- R180/day
Long-Term:
- 0–5 Days: R310 total
- After 5 Days: R62/day
Drop-Off Zone:
- First 30 minutes: Free
- 2–3 hours: R55
- 12–24 hours: R210
So the next time you’re at the airport, staring down those boom gates and wondering whether you’ll have to remortgage your house to get your car out, remember: there is a better way. It just doesn’t involve losing your ticket or creating TikTok content.
Unless you’re into that sort of thing.
[Source: IOL]
