As a means of making travelling easier, since many students and staff members make use of public transport, Nelson Mandela University built a taxi rank close to its North Campus in Summerstrand.
However, this brand new facility that was completed late last year, has been standing locked up for the past few months and has never been operational.
Residents are now questioning why this is happening, especially since taxis are utilising any available space as a taxi rank, making driving around the campuses a big risk.
A resident, Louise Bam, said that she would like to know why there is a brand new taxi rank but it isn’t being used, especially since there is such a great need for it.
She added that she is not a student or staff member of the university but lives and works in the nearby vicinity.
“I have to travel that road every day.
“There is a traffic circle and the taxis now line up in either the curve of the circle or on the grass verge which makes driving there quite an effort,” Bam explained.
The taxi rank is situated in an enclosed space at the corner or University Way and Gomery Avenue, opposite the North Campus and next to a traffic circle.
During PE Express’s visit to the taxi rank, the gates were closed and there was no soul in sight. The pedestrian gate was also locked.
When asked why the much-needed facility has not yet been utilised, Nelson Mandela University spokesperson, Zandile Mbabela, said that although the facility had been largely completed, there are still a few final touches that need to be attended to.
She explained that although the transport facility was recently completed, it was decided to hold back on the use of the facility until weather protection could be arranged for a security guard that will be stationed on the premises.
“The weather protection is in the form of a white security booth, which was recently fitted, and now we are awaiting some services, such as electricity, to be connected.
“The university’s support services division, which houses transport and security, will also work on a plan on how the facility will be run,” she said.
“A large number of staff and students of Nelson Mandela University are reliant on public transport in order to physically access campuses. As a result, several transport congregation points have emerged over the years; one of which was on the corner of Gomery Avenue and University Way.
“Following consultations with various role players, including the municipality and taxi associations, the university then took a decision to see to the construction of a transportation hub on this corner, which was largely completed recently,” Mbabela said.
“The objective was to formalise what had become an informal taxi rank in that area.
“There remain, however, a few final touches that need to be attended to buy the facility will thus be operational once these have been addressed and finalised.”
