THE eThekwini Municipality has moved to tighten the regulation of taxi ranks operating within shopping malls and other privately owned developments in a bid to improve public safety and ensure compliance with transport laws.

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At a recent full council meeting, councillors adopted a recommendation authorising the City Manager to enter into three-year memorandums of agreement with mall owners and other private sector stakeholders where public transport facilities are located.

According to the council report, the eThekwini Transport Authority, acting as the designated Transport Planning Authority, had been directed by the KZN Department of Transport to ensure taxi ranks within shopping malls are properly regulated, in strict compliance with the National Land Transport Act, 2009.

The report stated that the initiative aimed to enhance public safety and ensure that taxi operations are conducted within the applicable legal framework.

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Council heard that the municipality had already entered into MOAs with several malls within the metro and now intended to extend similar agreements to developments, including Galleria Mall, Isipingo Folweni Rank, KwaMakhutha Rank, Umbumbulu Taxi Rank in the Isipingo CBD and the Amanzimtoti Taxi Rank at the railway station.

“The overarching objective is to promote orderly, safe, peaceful, and lawful taxi operations, while clearly defining the roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders,” read the council minutes.

The municipality stressed that its role would be limited to the regulatory aspects of taxi operations within these developments. During discussions at the executive committee, questions were raised about whether the municipality had the authority to regulate activities within privately owned properties.

In response, officials clarified that the municipality was empowered under the National Land Transport Act to regulate taxi operations within mall precincts, particularly in the interest of public safety. Officials further explained that some malls had been developed in areas where no formal taxi routes previously existed, making municipal intervention necessary only after the developments had been completed.

The committee ultimately recommended that authority be granted to the city manager to enter into and sign three-year agreements.

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