More bays needed for uMhlanga temporary taxi rank
A site meeting was recently facilitated by the eThekwini Transport Authority (ETA) between various role-players to discuss a proposed temporary taxi ranking facility.
THE eThekwini Municipality, members of South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) and role-players from uMhlanga’s Oceans Mall Developer met last week to discuss a proposed temporary taxi-ranking facility at the mall.
The meeting, which was facilitated by the eThekwini Transport Authority (ETA), comes weeks after several taxi operators blocked routes in and out of uMhlanga.
That blockade was to protest and urge the eThekwini Municipality to find a solution to the lack of a designated taxi rank in the area.
According to City spokesperson Gugu Sisilana, the site visit on Friday was to ascertain if the proposed site was appropriate to accommodate 120 holding bays and 90 ranking bays to cater for the taxi operations within the uMhlanga precinct.
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“The initial plan for the taxi facility proposed by the developer was to house about 90 holding bays, which included nine bays for ranking. This proposal, however, was not supported by SANTACO on the basis that there were inadequate holding and ranking bays to accommodate their current taxi operations,” she said.
The roleplayers will have a follow-up meeting this week to discuss practical solutions to this prevailing challenge.
SANTACO Greater North Region chairperson Mr Sifiso Mthethwa welcomed the efforts of the City to find a lasting solution.
“The site visit with the developer and the municipality allowed the parties to have a practical understanding of our current situation and how best we can work together to find a lasting solution. The meeting next week will help to unpack the survey and data collection process further,” said Mthethwa.
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