VEREENIGING. – The project was meant to be completed in 2015. R64 million is said to have been spent on the project which has still not benefitted those it was meant for.
In 2019, Roads and Transport MEC Jacob Mamabolo said that his department would demolish the unfinished Vereeniging taxi rank and replace it with a larger intermodal rank incorporating retail space, long-distance buses and the train station.
DA MPL Kingsol Chabalala said Mamabolo’s announcement exposed the incompetence of the ANC-led provincial government. “It cannot be that they (ANC officials) spent R64m on a taxi rank and later on want to demolish it.”
On Monday, Chabalala along with members of the DA collected signatures for the petition at the temporary taxi rank in Vereeniging. In three hours, the petition had garnered more than 500 signatures.
“Delays in completing the taxi rank is impacting negatively on the residents and businesses around the area. Local businesses have lost out on much needed economic activity by waiting for the completion of the project. Informal traders have lost out on business which has resulted in the rise of unemployment.”
Chabalala stated that the temporary taxi rand had no shelter, adding that this also posed a health-risk more especially when it rains.
