THE City says it remains committed to finding a long-term solution to establishing a permanent taxi rank in uMhlanga.

The lack of a designated taxi rank in the area has led to scores of taxis parked on the M4 Ruth First Highway off-ramp.

There is also a limited number of bays for taxis on Ridge Road behind Oceans Mall.

In 2023, this all came to a head as taxi drivers blocked routes in and out of the uMhlanga CBD for several hours as operators demanded the municipality find a solution to the lack of a designated taxi rank in the area.

Also read: City unveils R1b amusement park plans for Durban beachfront

As a possible solution, the City proposed building a taxi and bus rank or ‘holding facility’ on a vacant plot of land in Prestondale.

At the time the plan proposed a three-level holding facility with more than 570 bays in Prestondale, next to the Umhlanga Ski Boat Club on the corner of Umhlanga Ridge Boulevard and Twilight Drive.

However the proposal was defeated after residents and the ward councillor submitted their objections last year.
Since then residents have again raised safety concerns over taxis parked on the off-ramp.

Spokesperson for the City, Gugu Sisilana, said the City acknowledged the need for a formal public transport holding facility to support operations in uMhlanga.

“An inter-departmental process is currently underway to identify a suitable site, with land availability being addressed at leadership level, in collaboration with the Real Estate Directorate and other relevant directorates’ engagements with key stakeholders forming part of this ongoing process,” she said.

Also read: Safety concerns raised over Riverside Road precinct

Sisilana said land availability in proximity to existing public transport operations remains a challenge.

“Various options have been explored over time to secure a holding facility for minibus taxis during off-peak periods. Once a suitable site is identified, the project will follow the required statutory processes. The City is aware of the informal public transport operations currently taking place on the M4 off-ramp. A sustainable and permanent solution is being pursued, taking into consideration commuter needs, operator requirements, and road safety. Relocation of operators will be implemented once a formal, compliant facility becomes available.”

For more from Northglen News, follow us on Facebook , X or  Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.

Click to subscribe to our newsletter – here