VEREENIGING. – The Gauteng MEC for Transport and Logistics, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela officially handed over the completed first phase of the Vereeniging Intermodal Taxi Facility on Friday, 11 August.
The launch was attended by various governmental officials, the taxi industry, businesses and fraternities, and members of the community at large.
The Intermodal Facility boasts various modes of transportation. In addition to taxis, the facility incorporates retail space, long-distance buses, and a train station.
The handover takes place 11 years after the failed Vereeniging taxi rank project, which saw about R60 million going to waste.
During these years, the taxi industry, commuters, and hawkers were subjected to terrible conditions at the temporary taxi rank which would always get flooded during the rainy season. The failure of the project also resulted in the closure of various businesses in the Vereeniging CBD.
Speaking during the launch, Diale-Tlabela said the opening of the newly refurbished rank would revive Vereeniging as an economic hub and restore it to its former glory.
“The department has committed itself to deliver transport infrastructure projects to restore and grow the economy and provide access to economic and much-needed job opportunities to the people of the province.
“I urge the people of Sedibeng to take good care of this taxi rank and avoid vandalism as the rank is here to service them.”
Tlabela-Diale said that contractors who had the habit of leaving projects incomplete would be brought to book. She said that the Provincial Government was busy with plans to complete projects that have been left incomplete by contractors in the region.
SANTACO Chairperson Midday Mali gave recognition to the Gautrain Management Agency (GMA) for diligently carrying out the project.
“We have waited for 11 years, but today we can confidently say that we are ready to rebuild the economy in Vereeniging. We hope that the second phase of the project will directly deal with growing the economy in Vereeniging.”
Mali thanked all stakeholders involved in making the project a success. Diale-Tlabela said her department would give a date for the beginning of the second phase in due course.
