After months of complaints from Brixton residents, the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) finally stepped in, issuing stern warnings to taxi drivers accused of turning the corner of Putney and Chiswick streets into an informal waiting bay.
The intervention follows concerns over illegal parking, road safety and the alleged use of a community borehole, an increasingly sensitive issue in a suburb that regularly experiences water outages.

The publication visited the area after receiving complaints from residents. Several taxis were observed parked along the street, although drivers declined to comment when approached. Resident Rashida Mather-Deane said the taxis regularly gather near the community borehole, where residents collect water in buckets and bottles during outages.

Read more: JMPD acts on Brixton taxis after residents raise parking and water misuse concerns

She stated that instead of being reserved for community use, the water is frequently used by taxi drivers to wash their vehicles. Another resident, Darryl Accone, believes the issue extends beyond water usage and has become a growing road safety concern. He said taxis are often parked too close to the intersection, obstructing motorists’ visibility and forcing vehicles into the opposite lane when turning.

Accone also raised concerns about taxis parking on pavements outside residents’ homes, saying the operators appear to have little regard for the neighbourhood despite using the area as a daily holding point while awaiting passengers. He noted that while the number of taxis has remained relatively constant over the years, their continued presence has disrupted the daily lives of residents.

Following the publication’s enquiry on July 24, the JMPD confirmed it became directly aware of the matter through the media enquiry and subsequent reports from residents. JMPD spokesperson Superintendent Xolani Fihla said officers were immediately dispatched to inspect the intersection. “Upon arrival, officers found three taxis parked on the public road. The drivers were issued stern warnings and assured officers that they would not return to use the street as a waiting bay.”

He confirmed the matter has now been formally logged for enforcement. Fihla said residential streets are not designated holding bays or taxi ranks, adding that using public residential roads to hold vehicles while awaiting passengers contravenes municipal traffic regulations and city by-laws.

Also read: JMPD moves in on Northcliff dumping hotspot after community outcry

He said anyone caught engaging in the practice could face enforcement action, including spot fines. The department added that fines relating to illegal parking, obstruction of traffic and public nuisance are issued in accordance with the National Road Traffic Act and City of Johannesburg by-laws.

To prevent the problem from recurring, JMPD has committed to conducting follow-up patrols and ongoing monitoring along Putney and Chiswick streets to ensure compliance.
Residents said they hope the increased enforcement will finally restore order to the neighbourhood and ensure that the community borehole serves the purpose for which it was intended: providing water to residents during times of need, not for washing vehicles.

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