Taxi lawlessness in Delmas’ Third Street reaches breaking point
Month end, late afternoons and Fridays are the worst according to an attendant at one of the shops who claims it is then when it becomes noisy and customers are too scared tod to get out of their vehicles in fear of being robbed.
Business owners on Third Street in Delmas claim they have been harassed and intimidated by unruly taxi owners for the past few months.
The taxi rank is situated on the same grounds as the municipal library and residents are complaining that the library grounds are in a ‘shocking and mostly unusable state’.
“We have witnessed taxis parking on the wrong side of the road. Even more concerning, a car wash has been set up for the taxis on the road,” said Diane Bath, DA caucus leader in the Victor Khanye Municipality (VKLM).
Bath further said the illegal taxi/car wash facility at the library has brought with it many concerns, such as excessive litter and noise. Water for this car wash is collected illegally from the library premises.
“The car wash has further led to the growth of excessive algae, which causes a bad smell in the area.”
The DA further claimed that businesses in the vicinity have been operating in fear. The safety of customers has been compromised after some were robbed.
“Parking meant for customers supporting businesses in the vicinity has been illegally occupied.”
“Even though we put ‘customers parking only’ boards on our walls and fences, it gets ignored. The taxi drivers park their vehicles, go to Shoprite and disappear for quite some time while the car wash attendants do their job.
“The roads get wet and dirty,” one business owner told Streeknews.
“Month end, late afternoons and Fridays are the worst. That is when it becomes noisy. Customers told me when they drive past, they are too scared to get out of their vehicles in fear of being robbed of their cell phones or handbags,” said another attendant at one of the businesses.
This situation has aimed the DA in VKLM to team up with the affected businesses in drafting a petition where they call for VKLM to enforce by-laws on these perpetrators.
According to Bath, the petition calls on the municipality’s public safety division to use its authority to impound taxis found to be transgressing. Taxi owners in Delmas have been contravening parking rules, which must be observed at all times.”
The municipality and the taxi association held a meeting on May 12 but according to Bath, nothing has changed.
The municipality is seemingly failing to deal with the conduct of drivers in this regard.
With Streeknews’ visit to the taxi rank on May 30, taxis were still being washed in the demarcated parking areas of some of the surrounding businesses.
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She said the affected businesses, municipalities and taxi owners need to forge a working relationship to remedy the situation.
“Businesses have a purpose to play in strengthening the economy of this town while providing convenience goods to the surrounding areas.”
Bath said the DA further acknowledges the taxi industry contributes immensely to the local economy. Their hard work and dedication should be commended.
“We call on the municipality to play a leading role in ensuring that the by-laws are enforced and the rule of law upheld,” Bath concluded.
