THE metro has ordered a large number of Uber taxis illegally parked in an open veld in Rhodesfield to move.
This follows after an inspection of the area was conducted by the metro as residents of the Lieberstein Complex on the corner of Fortress and Mosquito roads in Rhodesfield complained of the growing amount of Uber taxis illegally parked in the open space opposite their complex.
According to Ekurhuleni metro spokesperson, Themba Gadebe, the metro conducted an inspection and agreed that the situation was unbecoming.
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“It has been agreed with the drivers of these vehicles they should no longer park on the road. They will now park under the trees and have agreed to clean up the place,” Gadebe said.
According to Gadebe, the drivers also agreed to help point away any unruly people or drivers.
One of the residents and unit owner at the complex, Riaan van Wyngaardt, who also serves on the body corporate, has been taking up this matter since August on behalf of the residents, who had brought their concerns to the complex’s body corporate.
“We became aware of various vehicles that had started parking across the road from our main gate on Fortress Road, as well in the vacant lot on Mosquito Road. After complaints from the residents, we did our own investigations and discovered that these vehicles are Uber taxis that are operating in the area,” Van Wyngaardt explained.
“Our concern is that these taxis are now operating a business across the road from our private residence and are growing in numbers by the day, presenting an increasing risk.”
Van Wyngaardt added that the residents’ lives were being put at risk because they had incidents where taxi drivers allegedly started harassing some of the tenants, including children.
“In one incident they approached one of our resident’s daughter and requested her telephone number from her. Another resident using the Gautrain had to endure comments from them as she was walking down the road from the bus stop towards her unit. On October 22 they assaulted a scholar and his friend for reasons unknown.”
“Loud music was also being played from their vehicles and they had even started cleaning their vehicles in front of our main gate and leaving all their rubbish strewn in the street. Street racing is also now part of the game,” Van Wyngaardt explained.
The space was also reportedly being used to park their vehicles from as early as 6am until late at night. Taxi drivers were also apparently joining the ‘party’.
As a result, the complex’s residents were feeling unsafe because Fortress Road was being used daily by school children and those travelling to work.
“We feel that if the necessary action was taken at the onset of our complaint the situation would not have reached the stage it was at,” Van Wyngaardt said.
Van Wyngaardt said even though the taxis have indeed moved out, they are still monitoring the situation.
Ward councillor Tracey Butler is also arranging NO PARKING signs for the area.
“I would like to thank all the people that were involved with and assisted me with this complaint, it just proves that if a community gets involved they can get a lot done,” Van Wyngaardt concluded.
