A white elephant
Taxi associations delay process to open taxi rank inside the informal settlement.
A state of the art taxi rank constructed in Zandspruit was supposed to open at the end of 2012.
Two years down the line and the taxi rank is still not operational and residents are upset.
Community leader Tobie du Bizannie said, “When construction started the community was excited because it meant that we did not have to walk kilometres to catch a taxi to work. As soon as they finished building the rank they closed the gates and it was never used.”
Subata Mokabethi said the city council promised them the rank would be operational by the end of 2012. “We haven’t received any feedback as to why the taxi rank is still closed in spite of speaking to our local councillor,” he said.
Ward 114 councillor Maureen Schneemann explained that the department of transport was still busy with negotiations with the various taxi associations about rates to use the premises.
Schneemann said, “All of the associations have to reach an agreement before we can open the taxi tank. A meeting will take place within the next month between myself the MMC of Transport and the various taxi associations.”
She added that details about the meeting would be sent to various community leaders in Zandspruit.
