In an effort to avoid another taxi strike in uMhlanga, the eThekwini Transport Authority (ETA) along with members of the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO), the Oceans Mall Developer and their respective consultants worked together to find a suitable site for a taxi rank near the Oceans Mall. The proposed temporary facility at Oceans Development will accommodate the taxi associations from the Greater North Region.
The site visit was organised to ascertain if the proposed site was appropriate to accommodate 120 holding bays and 90 ranking bays to cater for the taxi operations within the uMhlanga precinct. The initial plan for the taxi facility proposed by the developer was to house about 90 holding bays which included 9 bays for ranking. This proposal, however, was not supported by Santaco because there was inadequate holding and ranking bays to accommodate their current taxi operations.
Following the site visit, further steps are to be taken which include conducting a survey to determine the number of required parking bays for holding and ranking. Officials from ETA, Santaco, the Developer and their respective consultants will have a follow up meeting next week to further discuss practical solutions to this prevailing challenge.
Santaco Greater North Region chairperson Sifiso Mthethwa said he was happy with the efforts made by ETA to find a lasting solution.
“The site visit with the developer and the municipality allowed the parties to have a practical understanding of our current situation and how best we can work together to find a lasting solution. The meeting next week will help to unpack the survey and data collection process further,” said Mr Mthethwa.
CEO of the Oceans Umhlanga Development Brian Mpono welcomed the efforts of ETA for leading the way to finding a practical solution by facilitating the site visit to witness the current temporary taxi rank.
“The current temporary taxi rank, which was open for use in mid-September, was witnessed by all parties present. It has now been extended to include a total of 91 bays,” said Mr Mpono.
