New Mamelodi taxi rank fully operating
The new taxi rank is the biggest taxi rank in Tshwane region andis located at the new mall in Mamelodi West.
The much-awaited new Mamelodi taxi rank has finally been handed over to the Mamelodi Amalgamated Taxi Association (Mata) after years of waiting.
The official handover of the state-of-the-art rank to the taxi association by Tshwane regional mall took place on Monday.
Mata chairman, Ben Maredi said the new taxi rank was the biggest rank in the Tshwane region and was located at the new Tshwane regional mall next to Denneboom railway station.
“The taxi operators and commuters are happy with the move from the old dirty, dusty rank to a new rank at Tshwane regional mall,” said Maredi.
The rank was built by Isibonelo developer and has fully furnished offices for all taxi associations, toilets for commuters, over 600 informal trader stores fully equipped with gas, electricity and water, storage facilities, car wash for the taxis, event activation space, offices for taxi marshals and holding bays.
Maredi said the Mata office and taxi rank was temporary moved next to the Universal Church grounds in 2016, when Isibonelo developer started to build the mall and the new taxi rank.
He said the relocation to the temporary rank was done in 2016 and many people were not happy with the temporary rank because it was a muddy when it rained and small and it did not accommodate all the taxis.
“Our community will no longer complain and they will board their taxis to different destinations,” he said.
The commuters described the new rank as comfortable and clean.
“The beautiful rank has enough space for taxis operating within Pretoria, local taxis, eastern surburb taxis, long distance taxis, etc,” said Maredi.
He promised Mamelodi commuters that the taxi rank was there to stay and that some jobs had been created “for a lot of people, especially informal traders”.
Maredi apologised to commuters for the delay and thanked them for their patience, loyalty and support.
Tshwane regional mall stakeholders’ manager Steerman Monageng who official handed over the mall said it was a historic day for one of the biggest taxi associations in Tshwane.
“We are looking forward to working hand in hand with the association,” said Monageng.
He said the taxi rank would benefit everyone in Mamelodi.
“The retail business needs your services to bring customers to the mall and the customers/commuters needs you to safely transport them from their home to the mall,” he said.
Informal trader, Mokgaetsi Bapela who sells vetkoek at the rank, said he was happy to move to the new taxi rank and will no longer worry about his stock, because it was now kept in a safe and secure place.
“No more firewood in the early hours of the morning. I am operating inside the rank and I have a gas stove to cook my vetkoek,” said Bapela.
Menlyn commuter, Sarah Ndebele said: “We are going to board taxis to work with big smiles and not worry about getting dirty before work.”
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