A BREAKAWAY group of the local taxi associations has brought the Go! Durban transport system project to a standstill.
For the past four weeks there has been no work on eThekwini’s much vaunted transport network. This has been blamed on threats of violence against workers and marches to the Durban CBD to hand over a memorandum of the group’s grievances to City Hall.
“Construction work has ceased for the past four weeks on the Bus Rapid Transport system. Minimal information has been communicated to me even though I am the councillor for the Ward in which the majority of the Pinetown section of the project is being constructed,” said ward 18 councillor, Bruce Sutcliffe.
He said the reasons for the stoppage, according to the eThekwini Transport Authority (ETA), are that while they discussed the situation prior to the start of the project, concerning disruption to the current operation of the taxis while the project was underway, as well as what the situation would be once the project started operating, it appeared a sector of the taxi organisation was unhappy with what was discussed and seemed to have broken away from the main discussions.
“They displayed their unhappiness by threatening staff on, not only the IRPTN project, but also by marching on City Hall with a memorandum. Their protest has also caused a similar situation regarding threats on the Kings Road project even though it has been explained to them that this project has nothing to do with the IRPTN project but is involved in stabilising Kings Road due to substrate problems,” said Sutcliffe.
He added that at a meeting chaired by the Pinetown CPF on Thursday 6 October, the representative of the ETA said another meeting would be held with the breakaway group on Monday 20 October to find a resolution that the project can continue.
“Should this happen it is hoped that the city would look to assist the contractor in accelerating the project for the benefit of the motorists in Pinetown and New Germany as well as surrounding areas, as the current situation is a disaster,” added Sutcliffe.
He had included a request to senior management to extend hours for his staff as well as ensure that they would be on hand at the various traffic hot spots to assist motorists with better traffic movement
Another item discussed at the meeting on Thursday 6 October was that of the Metro Police and their visibility in Pinetown.
The representative, Supt Johan Truter, said he had included a request to senior management to extend hours for his staff as well as to ensure that they would be on hand at various traffic hot spots to assist motorists with better traffic movement.
A representative from ETA is expected to attend a meeting at the Premier Hotel in Kings Road on Tuesday 4 November at 3pm to discuss the transport project and to answer all questions.
ETA responds:
Thami Manyathi, head of eThekwini Transport Authority said the project had not been put on hold and it is still going ahead.
“Over the last three weeks there have been disruptions to the construction activities occasioned by a group of unhappy taxi operators who have been going to the different contractors threatening people.
“It is understood that the reason why they are unhappy is that they believe that they have not received any information explaining what the project is about and how it is going to affect them.
“We also believe that they have been concerned that the agreement, which was signed by their leadership together with the City in February 2014, outlining the framework to guide the negotiations around the project, in affect has signed away their rights, which is not the case.”
“The taxi leadership in the city together with the eThekwini Transport Authority are going to be conducting road-shows in the upcoming weeks to provide information to all the different taxi associations in the city about the project as well as the agreement that was signed earlier in the year.
“It is encouraging to note that the leadership from both EMMTC and KZN Taxi Alliance are signatories to the MOA.
A number of engagements between the executive committee led by the Mayor Cllr James Nxumalo have taken place since June this year and another one will take place on Monday next week,” said Manyathi.
