VERENNIGING – Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi together with Roads and Logistics MEC Kedibone Diale handed over the Vereeniging taxi rank project to Gautrain. 

Upon taking oversite at the taxi rank, Lesufi witnessed the dire conditions that commuters and taxi drivers have had to live with for years after the initial R64 million taxi rank failed to materialize in 2015.

Lesufi was accompanied by Social Development MEC Mbali Hlophe, Sedibeng District Mayor Lerato Maloka and Emfuleni Local Municipality Mayor Sipho Radebe.

However, taxi drivers who said they had lost all hope were not impressed by the entourage.

Speaking to Sedibeng Ster, the group said they were tired of empty promises.

“This is nothing new, over the years we have gotten used to empty promises. We are not going to get excited until we see the finished product so we have nothing to say for now.”

Lesufi however told officials to stop fighting and deliver services to the people.

“Can we please stop fighting when there are projects. I don’t want my name to be tainted. We can fight in the back but the most important thing is delivering services to our people,” he said.

The first phase of the project, which is already underway will amount to R31 million yielding 50 jobs.