UPDATE: Newcastle Mall issues statement following taxi violence incident

Newcastle Mall has issued a statement following a dramatic clash between alleged rival taxi drivers in the parking lot on Wednesday afternoon.

Residents aired their opinions regarding the ongoing use of the parking lot by taxis, placing mall management under fire for allowing the situation to escalate to a point where simply driving or walking in the parking lot has become a hassle.

“The mall management needs to take action, I stand under correction but this is not the first time something like this has happened its absolutely ridiculous!!! (sic) Putting so many innocent lives in danger,” read one comment on the Newcastle Advertiser Facebook page.

Beulah Rajkumar, Marketing Manager for the Newcastle Mall responded to questions posed to mall management, regarding taxis at the mall.

“Yes, there is a dedicated area [for taxis] in the form of a taxi rank specifically built for their use,” said Mrs Rajkumar. “The Department of Transport (DOT) is to issue permits to all the taxi associations in order for the rank to become fully operational.”

“It is our understanding that not all the associations have to date applied for such a permit and due to the DOT still awaiting applications, the process is being delayed,” she continued.

“The Department of Transport (DOT) is to issue permits to all the taxi associations in order for the rank to become fully operational.”

The statement continued to say that mall management has had several high level discussions with the DOT and the Newcastle Municipality to push the matter forward.

“We will continue to do everything in our power to expedite this process,” she said.

The contentious issue of taxis making use of the parking facilities as they please was also brought under the spotlight.

“We fully understand the huge frustration regarding the irregular driving habits of taxi drivers,” said Mrs Rajkumar. “Individual interventions with drivers proved to be dangerous.”

However, the need for a taxi facility at the mall is essential, as it serves the needs of not only shoppers, but employees working at the mall also.

“We built the taxi rank at the mall for this reason after successful meetings with council, traffic and the taxi associations at that time. We were however shocked to learn a few weeks after the opening of the mall that this taxi facility was illegal and may thus not be operated,” she said. “We have desperately been trying to reinstate this facility ever since, which is very close to 3 years now.”

In a nutshell, the mall cannot do without the taxis and are thus trying to cater for that need.

“When the mall’s rank is fully operational, there will be no need for taxis to enter the mall’s parking area, which will prevent incidents such as these from happening again,” she concluded.

“We will work closely with the taxi associations and the authorities to ensure this is done legally and safely. We will continue to push for the reinstatement of our taxi rank, which will alleviate all of these challenges,” she continued.

Safe shopping

Residents also raised concerns that shopping at the mall could be unsafe, following an the incident during which innocent bystanders could easily have been injured.

“We take the issue of safety very seriously and report any irregularities immediately to the SAPS and Traffic Department, who also regularly patrol the parking area,” explained Mrs Rajkumar. “Regular safety meetings are held by the SAPS with representatives from all shopping centres in Newcastle on how to improve on safety standards.”

In the statement, the Newcastle Mall Centre Management requested that customers and employees at the mall immediately report any irregularities to them by contacting 034 326 112.

“When the mall’s rank is fully operational, there will be no need for taxis to enter the mall’s parking area, which will prevent incidents such as these from happening again,” she concluded.