Resident angered by influx of taxis, prostitutes

A FAST developing ‘taxi rank’ and an influx of prostitutes in Churchill Road, Morningside, has local residents calling on authorities to put a stop to these activities as a matter of urgency.

The resident, who asked not to be named, said taxis and tow trucks had started parking in the road during the day.

“Taxis park on the roadside and people can’t see oncoming cars when trying to get out of the driveway, which could cause an accident. They eat and throw their rubbish on the ground and use the trees in the road as a toilet. This is not a taxi rank, and if they want somewhere shady to park they should go to Sutton Park, Windermere Centre or the petrol station to use the toilet,” she said.

She said she had heard there was a taxi rank at the bottom end of Churchill Road, on the opposite side of Mathews Meyiwa (Stamford Hill) Road, where they should be parking. She said tow trucks should also be parking at an office somewhere, not in a residential zone.

“This is a residential and business road, not a place for taxis and tow trucks to park off. They park here all day, up until 4pm and take up parking meant for visitors and businesses in the road. It is not a taxi rank or tow truck zone, it is not on!” she said.

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The woman said increasing numbers of prostitutes on the road during the day was also becoming a problem. She said she had moved to the area four years ago when these social problems were not evident in the area. However, she said the road was now becoming filthy.

“With the prostitutes comes noise, and they are in your face and proposition people trying to go to businesses in the road, which affect business clientele. I watched a woman pull down her pants and urinate on the side of the road, and drop a tissue on the ground before moving off. They shouldn’t be here. I have inundated Metro Police with calls, but nothing has improved,” she said.

Responding to the complaints, ward councillor Martin Meyer, said he would engage with the taxi association on the matter of the taxis parking there. “I will also engage with Metro Police on the matter. Regarding prostitution, it is important for people to know that there is no quick fix solution. We have done a patrol, but already people tell me that nothing has changed. It will only change with a consistent and long term approach, a approach the community must take ownership of.”

He urged the community to get involved in these efforts, and said he would be setting up a schedule of patrols for the future.

People who want to join the patrols can contact Martin Meyer on ward27@ethekwini.org.

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