The project upgrading of the Vereeniging intermodal public transport facility (Taxi junction) is a partnership between Passenger Rail South Africa (PRASA), Sedibeng District Municipality, Emfuleni Local Municipality and the Department of Roads and Transport. It is part of modernising public transport facilities around the railway stations.

The project started in January 2014, Completion was exptected within 12 months but but it has taken four years due to delays and, to date, the project is still incomplete. Following Sedibeng Ster’s publication of the story (Commuters want their 65 million rand taxi rank, Sedibeng Ster: 4 April – 10 April 2018) the Sedibeng District Municipality (SDM) has said that among the challenges faced was the initial refusal of the Taxido Junction taxi operators to relocate for at least 3 months during the Christmas season in 2014, and demands made by the existing Taxido Junction project site (PRASA land) tenants.

The SDM said, “Ground conditions for layer works were found not to be suitable for stage two and had to be modified with new construction drawings which had costs and time implications.

“Labour-force employees embarked on a labour strike related to increasing project’s duration with no escalation to the labour rate. During the rainy seasons work was disrupted and the ground was saturated with rainwater for two weeks.

“There were delays in payment of contractors.” The SDM further added that a large spillage of sewage into the site contaminated the section and the contractor had to put the work on hold in order to pump sewage out of the working area. “This contamination resulted in time delays and additional costs to the project. The project is anticipated to be completed during the month of October.”