Secretary of the Ncedo Taxi Association in Kwa Bhaca (Mount Frere), Sinethemba Njonti, confirmed that they had blocked the N2 near Madzikane Memorial Hospital, demanding that councillors from Umzimvubu Local Municipality and the Department of Transport give them answers about the rank they requested as far back as 1985.
He said that Mount Frere is very busy, but no-one cares about the community members using this town. When it is raining their groceries become wet.
According to him, even though this town is very busy, it does not have a rank.
“According to our knowledge, the rank was requested in 1985 but until today nothing is happening, instead they are building the second rank in Mount Ayliff now.
“There are a lot of accidents that are happening here because our town has a steep area. If there is something that has happened the councillors make some promises; after that they keep quiet,” said Njonti.
He said that they were supposed to have a meeting with the municipality on February 26, but they (the municipality) decided to postpone it, stating that they are busy.
Njonti added that they then took this decision because they wanted answers from this municipality.
Senior manager for the Communications and Special Programmes Unit (SPU), Nokhanyo Zembe, said that Umzimvubu Local Municipality held a fruitful engagement session with the transport industry in KwaBhaca, following the closure of the N2 between Madzikane Ka Zulu Hospital and Shinta Junction.
She said that sharing their grievances during the engagement, the transport industry representatives said they were aggrieved by the “unacceptable” pace of establishing a taxi rank in KwaBhaca.
“The municipal leadership and the Provincial Department of Transport had worked together, and found a solution that better positioned the matter.
“Among some of the challenges that prompted a delay in the implementation of the taxi rank project is the process of transferring land from the Department of Public Works to the municipality,” said Zembe.
She added that during a previous meeting, held in November 2023 between the taxi industry and the municipality, it was agreed that the municipality would commence with a survey to zone a 10-hectare area of land earmarked for the project.
According to Zembe, it was further agreed that the municipality would sign into an exchange agreement with the Department of Public Works and co-ordinate a meeting during the month of February 2024 to brief the transport industry.
“It is unfortunate that this briefing was postponed due to the non-availability of the delegation from the Department of Public Works. The decision to postpone the meeting was unfortunately one of the reasons that led to the protest.
“However, during the engagements that were held, the MEC for the Department of Transport and Community Safety in the Eastern Cape, Xolile Nqatha, confirmed in a letter that he would visit Kwabhaca on March 8, 2024.
“All parties involved will meet again and present to the transport industry.”
She said that the municipality is committed to fostering better relations with this industry and seeks to finalise the budgetary process with the Department of Transport.
