Edenvale taxi rank’s poor conditions raise health and safety concerns
Ward councillors and residents have raised alarm over deteriorating conditions at Edenvale CBD’s taxi rank, citing drainage failures, potholes, rodent infestations, and a lack of security and waste management that are impacting the community and local businesses.
The condition of Edenvale CBD’s taxi rank is again in the spotlight.
According to Ward 19 Clr Ald Bill Rundle, the state of the taxi rank is affecting the surrounding community and the business district of the town.
Concerns raised included a lack of sufficient drainage, plumbing, security, and wheelie bins.
Over the years, the number of taxis using the rank has grown exponentially, expanding beyond the facility’s perimeter into the parking area of Eden Mall.
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According to Rundle, there is inadequate drainage at the rank. This has caused water from the taxi wash bays to flow out of the facility, creating potholes along Voortrekker Avenue and at the intersection with Third Street.
Water and detergent from the wash bays have corroded the road’s surface, creating potholes along Voortrekker Avenue towards Third Street.
The numerous potholes along Voortrekker Avenue force traffic to a near standstill.
Additionally, there is no plumbing for the rank’s cooking area, resulting in wastewater flowing down a handmade channel directly onto Voortrekker Avenue.
Grey water flows freely onto the road and into the community, inviting rodents and vermin onto neighbouring properties.
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Earlier this year, the Mayer family, who live on Voortrekker Avenue, raised concerns about the number of rodents on their property and cited unhygienic conditions at the taxi rank as a contributing factor.
An entrepreneur at the rank said that vagrants also frequent the facility, making fires in the area intended for cooking.
During a recent site visit with the two aldermen, evidence of a recent fire was found in the cooking area.
Although there were supposed to be multiple dustbins according to Ward 18 Ald Heather Hart, several of the wheelie bins, arranged for the facility by Essentially Edenvale, have been removed, leaving the rank with only one.
A request for comment was sent to the City of Ekurhuleni on September 4, with a deadline of September 5 at 14:30. At the time of going to print, no comment had been received.
