E-hailing drivers park wherever they want in Ferndale
E-hailing drivers are parking along Bond Street in Ferndale, causing traffic issues for residents, who have approaches JMPD for assistance in stopping them.
Residents of Ferndale, in Randburg, are complaining about an e-hailing issue. Drivers park their cars on Bond Street in order to target their next customers.
Read more: Fake e-hailing drivers cause trouble
Residents have mentioned that this has been happening for a while now. They have complained to the City of Johannesburg, as well as to Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) to implement by-laws in the area, however, nothing has been done about the issue to date.
Sanusha Reddy, a resident in the area, noted that the JMPD is rarely seen in the area, which may be why e-hailing drivers seem to take advantage of the lack of enforcement to do as they please. “This is an everyday occurrence. It’s causing issues with the flow of traffic and is extremely dangerous. Some park on the island, while others jut out onto the road. This is damaging the pavements and islands. All the plants and trees along the island are damaged. We want to see JMPD enforce the by-laws in Ferndale.”
Also read: Calls for stricter safety protocols in e-hailing
She further added that e-hailing services need to accommodate their drivers when it comes to finding parking spots, and should alert them that they are not allowed to park anywhere, especially not on public roads. “In addition to Bond Street, e-hailing drivers park all over Ferndale, waiting for their next ride. They use our pavements as toilets. When they are asked to move, they get aggressive. We have to keep contacting our private security companies and asking for assistance.”
JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla said that their regional offices have been made aware of this matter concerning Bond Street. Officers have been deployed to investigate and were able to remove the drivers, who were given warnings. “We understand the resident’s frustration, who have attempted to report this issue through emails and social media. The matter is now receiving attention from the JMPD, and officers will not only continue to monitor Bond Street, but also Jan Smuts and Braam Fischer Drive, which are also affected by a similar issue. Those who fail to adhere to these instructions will, unfortunately, have their vehicles impounded.”
Follow us on our WhatsApp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates!
