Since the onset of the public transport interchange (PTI) project at the Vineyard Shopping Centre in the CBD of Somerset West there have been fundamental changes to the quiet and rather uneventful daily lives of our communities.
But then minibus taxis and their drivers and commuters arrived in our residential streets and in part of the parking area at the Vineyard centre. For construction to start the taxis were moved to temporary holding areas at the end of Church Street and in the main parking area of the shopping centre, leaving customers with a few bays to park their cars.
The taxis flooded our streets, speeding, hooting, shouting, loud music, swearing, throwing objects at other road users, on and off loading commuters everywhere in the streets, and the unabated littering started!
While the taxis are moving the commuters just open the windows and throw their litter into the streets.
At the parking area they throw their litter all over as they are walking to and from the taxis, where they sit or stand waiting to embark or exit the vehicles, they just drop it right there. The few litter bins around are being ignored.
As a pedestrian it is rather a struggle to find a space to walk through all the litter lying around. The stench from rotten pieces of food, the flies buzzing and rats running around are disgusting.
Some of the commuters even use the walls and other spaces to urinate against.
This situation is a serious health hazard. It has been reported to the MEC of City of Cape Town health department, requesting an inspection of the area, but to date no action from that department.
Where does this type of behaviour come from? How does one human teach another to respect others and the environment?
Somerset West
