Temporary taxi rank proposed as uMhlanga blockade ends

TRAFFIC has begun flowing in and around uMhlanga after a taxi blockade brought the CBD to a complete standstill on Tuesday afternoon.

More than 50 taxis blocked major routes, including Umhlanga Rocks Drive (near the M4 bridge), Lagoon Drive and Lighthouse Drive.

The blockade was related to negotiations between the eThekwini Municipality and taxi associations around establishing a temporary rank in uMhlanga.

A temporary solution to the problem is to allow taxis to park near the R4-billion Oceans Umhlanga Mall.

Related article: Taxis block roads in and out of uMhlanga

uMhlanga Ratepayers’ and Residents’ Association (URRA) chairperson Terry MacLarty said a meeting between various roleplayers, including the City and taxi associations, was a peaceful one.

“The taxi associations just want their voices to be heard. They want to have a rank in uMhlanga and they want the municipality to find a solution which has not been forthcoming. After speaking to some of the taxi owners, they’ve told me they understand what they have done is not legal but they are tired of not being heard. For now, there is a temporary solution, and we hope more engagements will help stop this from happening again,” she said.

South African National Taxi Council’s (SANTACO) Greater North Region chairperson Sifiso Mthethwa explained the blockade today was due to their temporary rank being blocked off by Jersey barriers.

“We are waiting for the City to find a permanent solution to establish a taxi rank in uMhlanga. Where the Oceans Mall currently is situated used to be a taxi rank, and we were promised we would have a rank underground at the mall but that has not materialised. We have planned more engagements with the municipality, but they have removed the barriers in the meantime,” he said.

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