“At face value, it appears as if the Metro police are nervous of confronting the taxi drivers,” added Earp. “The metered taxis are a law unto themselves.”
Earp also said the behaviour of meter taxis outside the Gautrain station in Sandton is unacceptable. “They park illegally in the drop-off and pick-up slipway on West Street,” he explained.
He said he had originally complained to the Metro police and the response was that it was on Gautrain property. “We know this is incorrect,” he said. “It’s an excuse to not confront the problem. I have pestered the Metro police to have the meter taxis removed from the slipway as they contribute to the traffic congestion on that street.”
Earp said every time the Metro police ask the meter taxi drivers to move their vehicles, they just return and park at the slipway again after the Metro police vehicle has left the area.
Wayne Minnaar, Metro police spokesperson, maintains that the issue is not something the Metro police can handle and states that it is the responsibility of Gautrain. Ingrid Jensen from Gautrain’s technical team said, “Barbara is correct. The Gautrain has no jurisdiction on the area where the taxis park, it is that of the City.”
No comment was received from the City of Johannesburg by the time of publication.
This is an ongoing story and more information will be released as it becomes available.
Read our other stories on meter taxis here
Tell us on our Sandton Chronicle Facebook page who you think should take responsibility for the illegal parking of meter taxis on West Street in Sandton
