Residents and Mini bus taxi operators find each other in the Inner City

19 July 2017

 

After many years of complaints from residents and businesses of Anstey Building about a minibus taxi rank adjacent their building on the corner of Rahima Moosa (formerly Jeppe) and Joubert streets, a solution has been found. 

 

From the beginning of July, the taxi rank for commuters travelling to Bramfisherville and other similar locations in Region C have been relocated to the corner of Rahima Moosa and Loveday streets.

“Through dialogue and engagement with stakeholders, we were able to find a solution which recognises both the interests of residents to a pave and mini bus taxi operators and passengers,” said Member of the Mayoral Committee for Transport in the City of Johannesburg Cllr Nonhlanhla Makhuba.

“In the Inner City we have limited space for minibus taxi passengers to wait and vehicles to load passengers, especially where it is convenient to do so. On the other hand, we also have to consider the needs of residents and pedestrians to have access to safe sidewalks and their buildings and quiet streets especially at night. This is why we have to seek creative and inclusive solutions to balance the needs of different stakeholders,” she concluded.

The Dobsonville Roodepoort Leratong Johannesburg Taxi Association (DORLJOTA) has been conducting its operations since the early 1990s at the corner of Rahima Moosa and Joubert streets (semi-legal taxi rank) due to insufficient ranking space at the Metro Mall.

Since 2010, the number of operations increased due to the growing number of passengers coming from new areas in the West while at the same time the Ansteys Building owners were revitalising their building. The building occupants including an HIV/AIDS clinic complained bitterly about too many taxis and passengers standing in front of their building, making noise and not having access to ablution facilities.

The Transport Department in consultation with JMPD, JRA, Region F, Ward Cllr, Dorljota and Ansteys Building owners came to an agreement that some operations need to be relocated to the corner of Rahima Moosa and Loveday streets. The Provincial Legislature was also consulted due to the fact that the relocated taxi rank is close to the entrance to the Legislature.

The move was finally implemented on 3 July 2017 with seven destinations being operated at the new location. Currently, the operations are manageable and DORLJOTA has committed to keep both ranking areas in order and orderly. The move was communicated with the affected commuters and the businesses in the new location.

“What is so tragic is that one of the key leaders of the taxi industry, the PRO of DORLJOTA, Mr Zebron Simelane, who was instrumental in achieving a win-win solution was gunned down and killed just a couple of days after the move was effected,” said MMC Makhuba.

“I hope that in his memory this solution works,” she added.

“We have similar issues in other parts of the City such as Killarney Mall and along major roads such as Hendrik Potgieter and William Nicol,” said MMC Makhuba. “We urge residents, business owners and taxi operators to come together to seek orderly solutions and the Transport Department is willing and able to facilitate such”, she advised.