WATCH: Taxi drivers ramp up efforts to clean plaza
Residents and local business owners were encouraged to keep the environment clean
Benoni Taxi Association drivers have been applauded for leading by example in their quest to restore the Benoni CBD to its glory days, following a massive clean-up around the CBD on November 15.
The clean-up, which was organised by the taxi drivers, was joined by local business owners, hawkers and community members who rolled up their sleeves to claim back their much-loved town.
The City Times caught up with some local taxi drivers and business owners at their last spot, the Benoni Plaza, after they spent their morning cleaning various streets near Lakeside Mall.
According to Jerry Mosehla, chairman of the taxi drivers, the clean-up formed part of their proactive approach to keeping the Benoni CBD clean and safe.
“Littering and illegal dumping is one of the problems one encounters when one walks through the CBD, hence, we decided to clean the area.
“We would like to thank these two companies, Bad Boyz Security and NoJack who supplied us with cleaning tools. I Love Benoni also reached out to us with customised bibs and cleaning tools,” said Mosehla.
One of the business owners, Amir Hussain, whose shop is situated near the Benoni Plaza, said due to the filthy state of the area that they decided to take part in the clean-up for the benefit of their customers’ health.
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“Over the past few months we’ve had fewer feet coming to our shops due to the increase of robberies and the dire state of the plaza.
“Now that the taxi drivers have gotten rid of the ‘addicts’ from the Benoni Plaza, more people are now walking around the plaza. This means our business will start to pick up,” he said.
A municipal waste skip was available on the day.
Taxi drivers have also urged the metro to support their clean-up initiative by providing them with clean-up materials.
During the clean-up, a suspected drug dealer was found in possession of drugs. He was dragged to the Benoni Plaza where he confessed to selling drugs to make ends meet for his children.
Our readers comment on Facebook
Jeanette Hill: “ Well done and thank you for trying to make a difference!”
Thabile Shabangu: “Well done guys. Good job.”
Zakhele Mavuso: “BTA is the best taxi association in Mzansi.”
Sandy Vallome: “Great achievement, thank you for taking the first steps, so very awesome. SAPS could learn a thing or two from you gents. We can all work together if need be and you guys proved that again thank you.”
Suzanne Bredenkamp: Thank you Benoni Taxi Association. Hats off to all involved. Can or could you do the same with the drug dealers of Benoni?”
Also Read: Demolition of parts of Benoni Plaza underway
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