No lights working at the Springs Long-Distance Taxi Rank
The taxi rank, which sees approximately 100 commuters per night, is expecting a sharp increase in the number of passengers over the next few weeks as people travel for the festive season.
The Springs Long-Distance Taxi Rank has been without lights since March this year.
Commuters and taxi operators fear for their safety as it is dark at the taxi rank.
“None of us are safe here.
“Now we are approaching peak season and it is going to be chaotic trying to work in the dark.
“We have been using torches and lights from the taxi to light up the area,” says Simon Khumalo, one of the safety reps for the Springs Long-Distance Taxi Association.
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The taxi rank, which sees approximately 100 commuters per night, is expecting a sharp increase in the number of passengers over the next few weeks as people travel for the festive season.
Taxi operators say they have had instances where luggage has been loaded into the wrong taxi as it is too dark to see.
“Pickpocketers are also hard to spot or catch as it is dark where the commuters are and it is impossible to chase them in the dark.
“We need the metro to attend to this matter urgently,” says Khumalo.
In light of the situation, the safety reps request that commuters arrive as early as possible.
“Commuters can start arriving from 3pm onwards, so we can start loading.
“As soon as the taxi is full, we can leave.
“We are expecting our peak days to be today, Saturday and Sunday,” says Khumalo.
The taxis go as far as Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape.
The metro failed to respond in time for publication.
