Blocking driveways, vehicles being washed alongside residential sidewalks, blaring music and urinating in public are just some of the complaints residents of Lourens Street, in the Somerset West CBD, have of the taxi drivers who now park there.
They bemoan the knock-on effects of construction of the Public Transport Interchange, which has resulted in a temporary taxi holding area set up in Church Street – but is being used only by less than half the taxis.
For the most part, taxi drivers continue to make use of the Shoprite parking area – and a significant number of drivers overflow into Lourens Street in front of homes – unperturbed and undisturbed by law enforcement.
“We feared this may happen, and it did,” said Lourens Street resident Peggy de Sousa.
“We are struggling to get in and out of the street, and at times we can’t even exit our own driveways.”
She added that a urine stench emanates from the sidewalks on a daily basis and litter is strewn across the road as taxi passengers throw packets, tins and bottles everywhere.
“This truly is an eyesore for us who live here, one of the oldest residential areas of Somerset West,” De Sousa said, “that we have to settle now for this stinking mess, as we cannot afford to move to the classier, more affluent areas.”
She pointed out that it is for these very reasons Caledon Street business owners objected last year to the taxi holding area to be based opposite the Circle Centre(“Taxi troubles”, DistrictMail, 9 December 2021).
“We are pleading for the City to address the taxi situation before it escalates and the whole street is taken over,” De Sousa said.
She added that residents were now having rows with the taxi drivers, “which may soon escalate into something worse, because they block driveways and ignore residents when they ask them to move.”
Rob Quintas, the City’s Mayoral Committee member for Urban Mobility, acknowledged that the City had received complaints from residents and surrounding businesses.
He said the City is continuously engaging and encouraging minibus-taxi operators and informal traders to use the temporary holding area in Church Street that has been made available for the duration of the construction of the new public-transport interchange.
Quintas assures residents the relevant City departments have been informed of the complaints and are dealing with them.
He said: “The Transport Enforcement Unit, in conjunction with area-based law enforcement, will address complaints about the anti-social behaviour, such as loud music and urinating in public in particular. It must be noted that construction of this scale will cause inconvenience to the surrounding community, and I kindly request all to be tolerant and considerate at this time.
“We are trying to limit the impact as far as possible, but can do so only with the support of all stakeholders.”
Another resident said many had engaged Ward 84 Councillor Norman McFarlane for weeks, but the situation was just not being attended to, worsening instead.
According to McFarlane, he is fully aware of what is happening in Lourens Street and has conducted multiple site visits over the last 10 days.
He agreed the disturbance and congestion levels are unacceptable, and residents have every right to demand that the matter be addressed.
“It is an intractable situation, for which I as ward councillor, working closely with the PTI team, seek a solution,” McFarlane said.
“A meeting is planned later this week to address the matter with the stakeholders whose cooperation we need to resolve the pressing matter once and for all.
“In the meantime, I have asked that our Traffic Services, the specialised Taxi Enforcement Unit and Law Enforcement Services visit the area regularly and enforce the law.”
