The taxi debacle crept into the Ward 4 meeting last Wednesday.
During proceedings, DA Member of the Provincial Legislature, Dr Imran Keeka questioned the Ward Committee on steps it had taken to quell the matter of taxis ranking along Sutherland Street.
He also asked why fencing of the rank extension was delayed.
Party councillor, Sunny Chetty added in his questions, for clarity on the zoning of the area and why traffic officials were allegedly avoiding the issue.
“The committee must report back to the community with urgency,” he said.
In the absence of councillor, Tanya de Jager, the duty of responding was tasked to Rajesh Ramdaw, a committee member representing the Community Policing Forum (CPF), who promised the forum was addressing safety concerns of residents.
Among complaints regarding the rank, is that female workers are being harassed by drivers.
Ward councillor, Bertie Meiring expanded, “We want to take the matter up with the Mayor (Afzul Rehman) personally.”
Insisting there was a SAPS presence in the rank area, Mr Ramdaw was followed by security specialist, Mark Jacobs, who called for concrete bollards or barricades to stop problems.
However, Cllr Chetty insisted this would become a lengthy process.
Concluding with the promise that the root problem would be determined, Cllr Meiring attempted to put residents’ minds at ease.
Mr Ramdaw had other ideas.
“This taxi saga has gone on since last year and needs to be addressed. People’s lives are in danger.”
Earlier in the year, municipal officials claimed the rank extension project would be completed by the end of January.
“The project was only undertaken in December, when the end-year holidays slowed us down.”
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