The road, used to access Visiomed Office Park, Wishing Wells Nursery School, Rocky’s Dog Parlour and DancExchange studio has become a taxi rank, car wash and a rubbish dump.
Sylvia Hughes who works close by is worried about the negative impact the condition of the road has on the businesses in the area. “You have to drive very slowly because there are taxis parked on either side with some being washed right there on the road. There’s so much garbage around that we were asked to get rid of our bird-feeder because it encouraged the rats.”
According to Ward 88 councillor Patricia Brugman-Richards, the problem stems from two privately owned lots that have been excavated but lie unused.
“There is little the police can do because the owners must give permission before the police can enter their properties. One owner lives overseas and the other doesn’t seem to care. For now the Metro police can only enforce city bylaws that deal with illegal parking, vagrants and dumping outside these lots.”
A missing drain cover and meter makes way for a constant stream of water running from the pavement into the street.
“I’m very happy that these drivers choose to keep their vehicles clean for passengers, but not when the meter has been broken into and trash is thrown out right here,” remarked Brugman-Richards. “I’ve already logged the issue with Johannesburg Water and will do the same with Pikitup and Community Safety.”
While on scene the Metro police arrived and noted that they have made many efforts to clear the road but the taxi drivers keep coming back because there is no adequate taxi rank serving them.
“Councillor Laurette van Zijl and I have been asking city council for a taxi rank around Cresta Shopping Centre for years, and unfortunately we haven’t gotten one yet so I understand the plight of these taxi operators. However, if they block driveways, litter the surrounding area and illegally use water then we simply cannot have them,” says Brugman-Richards.
