Residents say no to new taxi rank project
The residents clearly indicated to the GTM employees who arrived moments before the event could start that there will only be such a ceremony only after their water problems are solved.
A planned sod-turning ceremony for the Lenyenye Taxi Rank came to a halt after a group of Lenyenye residents stopped the event from taking place on Monday morning at the rank.
The Mayor of Greater Tzaneen Municipality (GTM), Maripe Mangena was scheduled to conduct the ceremony, but he could not attend the event after being warned that the atmosphere was not conducive for a meeting.
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The contractor for the project is Maneya Makgaba while the consultant is Makasela MKS, the value of the construction will cost the municipality R9,8 million.
The residents clearly indicated to the GTM employees who arrived moments before the event could start that there will only be such a ceremony only after their water problems are solved.
“Why does the municipality want to construct a taxi rank when we don’t have water to drink? asked one of the disgruntled community members. Lenyenye Township has been having water issues for the past few years and they have recently embarked on protests with the hopes of the issue being addressed.”
The Greater Tzaneen Taxi Association also agrees that the community has a serious need for water, however they also believe that the taxi rank will be beneficial for both the local taxi industry and the community at large.
“Our drivers don’t have a place to park their vehicles, there is no form of sanitation, they currently use the nearby filling station’ toilets or they either ask to use toilets at the nearby houses.”
“We believe the project will also assist the hawkers to sell their food on a clean environment, because now they are working in a dusty environment and sanitation will be provided when the rank is built; explained Carlton Mabitsela, Chairperson of the Tzaneen Taxi Association.
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The group started burning tyres and throwing dirt in demonstration of anger, eventually the GTM employees and all stakeholders left the rank after seeing the disapproval of the residents and no ceremony was conducted.
According to Neville Ndlala, GTM spokesman the project will start as soon as the sod-turning ceremony is done.
