An alleged illegal taxi rank outside Clearwater Mall in Struben’s Valley continues with operations outside the Hendrik Potgieter Road.
The taxi rank causes traffic congestion in the precinct, specifically during peak time, frustrating many motorists.
Ward 97 councillor, Jaco Engelbrecht insisted that the Struben’s Valley area required intervention by the Provincial Government and the City of Joburg.
“Unfortunately the municipality and the Provincial Government do not want to get ahead and develop the area,” remarked Engelbrecht.
He said it seems like there were no plans to solve this predicament and the implementation of taxi rank was inevitable.
“It is just taxi organisations fostering their own rules and yet the place is not conducive for a taxi rank,” he explained.
He continued that JMPD was responsible for implementing the bylaws and controlling the flow of traffic of that road.
“There is lack of commitment from the JMPD, they only focus on motorists rather than taxis,” he said.
JMPD spokesperson Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar, said they were not responsible for implementing and controlling taxi ranks. He insisted that it was the responsibility of the Gauteng Department of Community Safety.
The department’s spokesperson, Thapelo Moila referred the query to the traffic police section within the department.
Gauteng Traffic Police spokesperson Deputy Director Busaphi Nxumalo, said the City was shifting the responsibility.
“This is called shifting the responsibility. The City allocates ranks, not Province [Government]. They enforce bylaws not Province. JMPD officers have a duty to ensure that there is no obstruction on the road,” she said.
She explained that the provincial traffic police did not know which areas were declared as taxi ranks or not. “How can it be our responsibility?” she asked.
“We only assist with enforcement of transport legislation, not bylaws,” she said.
Details: Ward 97 councillor Jaco Engelbrecht 082 318 6514; Department of Community Safety 011 689 3826.
