Are due processes leaving taxi owners high and dry?
Zwelinjani Magagula, chairman of the Madadeni and Newcastle Taxi Association, believes so.
His commented in a response to building tension over ranking in the vicinity of the Newcastle Mall.
According to Mr Magagula, local taxi associations received forms from the Department of Transport, to be filled in and returned.
This would authorise taxis to rank at a designed space at the Mall.
“We were declined on a technical basis, and were refused authorisation.”
At present, only two associations have received the necessary permission to rank, while the remaining three are still waiting for documentation to be returned.
Until such time, tension continues to build.
“Our complaint is that officials never contacted us, to explain where we went wrong with the forms.”
The unease surrounding taxi ranking in the Allen Street area, resulted in KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Willies Mchunu visiting Newcastle in person a few times in November.
Possible new ranks in the township area could provide a solution.
However, it is a memorandum of agreement on paper taxi owners are most anticipating, defining routes and the conduct of taxi drivers.
Chief Traffic Officer, Ashok Anandhaw has also stepped up patrols in this light.
“We have done all in our power,” he said previously. “We will continue with law enforcement in the area.”
