VEREENIGING.- Following the delays in the construction of the Vereeniging taxi rank the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) Vereeniging taxi rank petition has been adopted by the Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s (GPL) Petitions Committee.

These delays have caused unnecessary strain and frustration to the residents, including taxi associations and small businesses who are solely dependent on it to survive.

According to Kingsol Chabalala, the DA Emfuleni North Constituency Head, this will ensure that the Gauteng Provincial Government urgently completes this taxi rank.

“This is a step in the right direction as over the years commuters have been left stranded with no proper facility.”

The construction of the taxi rank commenced on 15 January 2014 and was supposed to be completed on 15 January 2015. The date of completion was shifted to December 2018, but the taxi rank still remains incomplete.

Chabalala said the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport has given many excuses for the delays.

“These include a contractual dispute between the consultant and PRASA, delays in the relocation of taxi operators to a temporary taxi rank, labour disputes, the contractor experiencing financial difficulties and a municipality sewer line contaminating the canopy foundation.”

The initial budget for this taxi rank was R61 683 186.31 and to date, R54 806 777.13 has been spent.

“This shows that 90 percent of the budget has been spent while the taxi rank is still far from completion. This indicates that the project runs the risk of running over budget as a result of their unnecessary delays. Failure to complete this taxi rank within the stipulated time frames has had a negative impact on taxi operators and residents who are using an open space with no shade as a temporary taxi rank. Small businesses and vendors who operated at the taxi rank have lost income resulting in unemployment. This incomplete taxi rank stands as a testament to the legacy of the ANC-led government.

The DA will continue to monitor the progress of the petition to ensure that immediate intervention is taken to speed up the completion of the taxi rank for the benefit of our people.