A commuter at the Randburg taxi rank, Maggie Carnegie is fed up with filth and rat infestation at this facility.
“It was while walking past the rubbish bags that I almost stepped on a large rat and noticed that the rubbish in the area was teeming with them. There must have been over 40 rats in that small area,” complained Carnegie.
According to the spokesperson of the Randburg taxi rank, Johannes Rammala, the rank is constantly being cleaned. “Because taxi drivers and commuters occupy the rank 24 hours a day, we hire a team of cleaners to clean twice a day. Carnegie might have walked past the filth on the day that Pikitup had not picked up the rubbish bags yet,” explained Rammala.
He said the management of the taxi rank would like government to come on board with educational projects for market traders, commuters and taxi drivers to help keep the facility clean. “We always clean-up, but I cannot speak for the food stalls and restaurants within the taxi rank which somewhat contribute to the rubbish. We therefore ask people to take care of their mess,” stressed Rammala.
Ward 102 councillor David Potter said the City of Johannesburg Health Department should manage the environmental health concerns of the taxi rank regularly.
“The Northern taxi liaison committee of the Randburg taxi rank is responsible for keeping the taxi rank clean. Formal traders at the market next to the taxi rank should use correct practices to dispose of cooking fat and other waste rather than dumping it where they please,” advised Potter.
Regional manager of the health department in Region B, Paulinah Maepa said the department is aware of the problems at the rank. “Bylaws[on] education and training on environmental health issues are normally done once or twice a year. Rodent control at the taxi rank is done quarterly by the Region B pest control section to monitor things,” explained Maepa. Maepa added that the rank is visited monthly by a designated environmental health practitioner and any health related issues are addressed.
Details: Health Region B 011 474 6703; Ward 102 councillor David Potter david@oursuburb.co.za; Randburg taxi rank 071 440 1512.
