Congestion, crime concerns at temporary taxi rank
A rank manager who did not wish to be named said the operation of the rank is not occurring as agreed.
Construction has started at the old Port Shepstone taxi rank, which is one of Ray Nkonyeni Municipality’s projects, to upgrade Port Shepstone CBD, along with the revamp of Nelson Mandela Drive and Main Harding Road.
This taxi rank project is expected to be completed in about 18 months.
With all these projects under way, crime in the CBD and taxi rank have not stopped, and commuters are concerned that it will only get worse.
Commuters have also been complaining that the temporary taxi rank at the Port Shepstone bus rank is much further away, and that it costs them more as the trolley pushers who cart their groceries have increased their fees.
They also said it is unsafe getting to the taxi rank, as they are easy targets for criminals as the area is congested.
A commuter from Nyandezulu said on Tuesday last week, it took her 30 minutes to find her way out of the taxi rank and she got home late.
It is not only commuters that have challenges but taxi drivers too.
The Herald visited the temporary rank, also on Tuesday, and several drivers are unhappy about the congestion and are requesting help from law enforcement.
Also, the drivers said there are no toilets and dirty water is flowing through the rank, and they don’t know the source of it.
Crime is also of concern to them.
“We have lost hope because the police arrests offenders and in a few hours they are back here and some of them are part of a drug syndicate. We also call on law enforcement to help us with controlling traffic.”
A rank manager who did not wish to be named said the operation of the rank is not occurring as agreed.
“Each association was asked to have a specific number of taxis at the rank, but other associations bring all their taxis here and it causes a traffic jam inside the rank.”
Informal traders are also facing difficulties.
One trader said she is finding it difficult to sell her goods because the taxis are blocking the stalls and people are too busy trying to find their way out.
“This is killing my business, this rank is too busy and people are still getting lost trying to find a taxi home. I’m also meant to be selling in front of my local taxi association but I cannot because there is no space.”
Drivers, commuters and traders are pleading with law enforcement to help them ease the traffic congestion inside the rank as they believe it will create space for everyone, and make it difficult for criminals to hide.
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