Church Square Park in chaos
Scholar transport operators are causing havoc at Church Square Park in Florida CBD.
One block from the Florida CBD, tucked behind the Florida Library, sits Church Square Park, where residents say they are being terrorised in their own neighbourhood by taxi and scholar transport drivers.
According to resident Gerhard Leibbrandt, in the seven years since he moved into a residential complex on Fieldhouse Street right across the road from the notorious park, the situation has gone from bad to worse despite numerous calls for intervention.
“Every morning, our area is flooded with scholar transport taxis,” he says. “They cause havoc with the traffic and openly flout the law with no regard for people who live here.
“I have files full of correspondence with everyone from our ward councillor to law enforcement agencies. To date, there has been no action whatsoever to address our concerns about the situation unfolding at the park.”
The Roodepoort Record visited the park where scholar transport taxis park en masse throughout the day after dropping children off at local schools.
Leibbrandt pointed out numerous taxis in which drivers congregate, many openly consuming bottles of alcohol while socialising or playing games.
At least five of the taxis in the parking area did not have number plates and a few were without license disks as well.
Loud music could be heard emanating from at least two of the taxis.
“The situation at the park is completely out of control,” says Leibbrandt. “They lounge in the parking area all day. People cannot make use of the park because they don’t feel safe.”
A walk through the park revealed more problems, including a seemingly thriving illegal recycling operation, where unrecyclable refuse is simply left behind.
“These vehicles are here every day of the week,” adds Leibbrandt. “They operate without any fear of law enforcement despite many being unlicensed, and some drivers consuming alcohol.
“We often see JMPD vehicles passing by, but they never stop any of these vehicles.”
The Record has sent questions to JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla, but no answers have been forthcoming by the time of publication.
Ward 70 councillor Caleb Finn confirmed that he is aware of the problems at the park, adding that he will look into the situation again.
Upon the Record’s departure from the park, one of the taxi drivers stepped forward, cellphone in hand, taking pictures of the journalist’s vehicle and registration number.
