Morningside residents call foul

MORNINGSIDE residents have raised their concerns over an illegal taxi rank, vagrants and the state of an open green space in Montpelier Place, with local authorities and are calling for action to be taken.

Residents say the taxis are parked illegally on the road all day. “Despite complaints, no one knows who has given the drivers permission to park there, or if they even have permission,” said a resident.

Another resident, Grant Smith, said the taxis park in the road outside a pre-primary school from early in the morning when children are dropped off, until the children finished school for the day. “A bed has now appeared on the pavement outside the school and we have also found knives lying near the entrance to the school,” he said, adding that both children and adults used the park across the road as a convenient ablution area, which also raised health issues. “There are no toilets, they urinate and defecate in the park. Vagrants drink and sleep in the park during the day. The park is filthy, it’s so sad,” he said.

Police officers from Berea SAPS accompanied Berea Mail and Smith on an inspection of the site. Police found bags of bedding stuffed into the manholes near the bed on the pavement. A bag of bedding was also found under the bed.

Carlos Esteves, deputy head of Road System Management at the eThekwini Transport Authority said he had forwarded the request for assistance to the Public Transport Department to see if they could assist.

“From my side we will respond to any support we can give to either Metro Police or Public Transport in terms of infrastructure intervention,” he said.

Ward councillor Martin Meyer said there were definitely laws that governed where taxis could park.

“I have contacted the relevant departments to address this matter as soon as possible, and have been assured it is receiving attention,” he said.