Mendelsohn said the proposed rank was a stopgap measure designed to accommodate taxis which will be displaced from the parking area in Fourways Mall when building operations commence for the extension of the shopping centre.
“This will be a temporary facility for about 20 months during the construction time,” said Mendelsohn.
The councillor’s response follows Fourways Review publishing a story last week of residents complaining about the taxi rank’s encroachment into their residential area.
The ward councillor, however, sang a different tune. He appealed to residents to accept the development, adding that he was acting in their best interests.
“I would like readers to know that I consider Fourways Mall to be acting with a high degree of social responsibility by providing these facilities. In their absence, the taxis would simply clog the streets and pavements,” said Mendelsohn in a written response to Fourways Review.
He added that the taxis will be moved back to the mall where an underground taxi rank would be built.
Mendelsohn also announced that he invited the Johannesburg Roads Agency and Metro police to set up a task team to consider any other safety features and law enforcement measures that may be needed at the temporary taxi rank.
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