Taxi operators usually show very little to no kindness to other motorists, and Valentine’s Day, Friday, 14 February, was no exception.
However, in a joint clean-up and by-law operation held at the Hendrik Potgieter Road informal taxi rank outside Makro, the Honeydew Police, Johannesburg Metro Department (JMPD), Pikitup, EPWP, councillor Leah Knott, Environmental Health and Urban Management employees, paid the taxi operators a visit after receiving complaints about road-rules transgressions.
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While EPWP and Pikitup employees cleaned up the area, the law enforcers addressed the taxi operators about obstructing traffic and parking on the road reserves while they queue to load passengers.
Environmental Health officers issued three notices to hawkers who illegally sell food at the ‘rank’.
Speaking about the by-law blitz, Leah said she engaged various departments to come on board. “I engaged my ward inspector relating to complaints about the taxis, trucks, informal trading and litter in this place. We went on to engage different institutions in the City, including Gautrans, that have been cutting grass and clearing storm-water drains,” she explained.
During the operations, the taxi operators, who weren’t entirely pleased with the visit, asked for a solution to their challenge of a taxi rank. One pleaded with the officials to engage Clearwater Mall management to allow taxis to use their property for that purpose.
It is understood that previously, a portion at the mall premises had been earmarked for a taxi rank but fights between Faraday Taxi Association and Dobsonville, Roodepoort, Leratong, Johannesburg Taxi Association (DORLJOTA) resulted in the plan being suspended indefinitely.
Leah responded to the plea, saying that she would have to engage both taxi associations, JMPD, the police, Department of Transport and mall management to see what they could work out.
While that process could drag on for months, taxi operators were warned to behave. Furthermore, the Honeydew Police Sector 3 manager, Captain Karen Jacobs, cautioned the operators about keeping huge amounts of cash in their possession before handing it to their bosses. She warned that in the evenings criminals follow taxi operators with the intention to rob them, and in some cases end up being shot at.
She also reminded them about the most important number to dial during an emergency, which is the police’s 10111.
