A HIGH-POWERED eThekwini Municipality delegation led by the chairperson of the Human Settlements and Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Mondli Mthembu, visited Dalton taxi rank on 10 October to assess the condition of the facility and address issues of safety, litter, water and sanitation provision.
The visit was a fact finding mission on behalf of Mayor Zandile Gumede to get a first-hand account of the issues the taxi owners were grappling with. After speaking with various taxi owners, Mthembu tasked municipal staff from eThekwini Transport Authority (ETA), Durban Solid Waste (DSW) and Engineering Units to speedily attend to all hygiene issues that were of concern as well as clean-up the blocked drainage system in order for the stagnant water in the taxi rank to be drained out.
“Officials from the various municipal departments will compile a detailed intervention plan working with the taxi leadership so that they can holistically address all the issues noted during our visit to the taxi rank. We are committed to working with our stakeholders in the transport industry to ensure that they work in a safe and conducive environment,” said Mthembu.
Mthembu said DSW staff would clean up the area and conduct environmental awareness talks with the taxi owners, drivers and passengers in order to ensure that the facility remains litter free at all times.Currently, there is one ablution building in the taxi rank with six flush toilets and six portable toilets that are cleaned daily. Another ablution structure in the taxi rank is being built and is near completion. The drainage system has been unblocked and a high pressure hosepipe was used to wash up the algae that had built up as a result of the stagnant water. However, the public’s blatant disregard for the environment and littering appears to be the cause of most of the problems that lead to the malfunctioning of stormwater drains, Head of ETA, Thami Manyathi, said.
“People tend to throw litter on the floor and during heavy rains that litter gets washed up and clogs our drainage systems,” he added.
Taxi owner Bheki Mkhize welcomed the City’s intervention Regular by-law enforcement operations in the area will be conducted by Metro Police to ensure that vagrancy and security issues are addressed.
Residents are urged to immediately report stormwater drain blockages to the 24-hour call out number on 080 1313 013.
