“Taxi’s cannot be wished away.”
This is the remark by Cheryl Visser, councillor for Ward 1, at a recently held Subcouncil 3 meeting to ward councillors.
The council was discussing the quarterly report for traffic services for the month of January when the issue of taxis and their alleged illegal behaviour came up.
Arnoldus Schronen, chief inspector of safety and security traffic services, said traffic has returned to normal after the festive season, especially with schools reopening. Schronen said daily patrols are conducted throughout the area. He reminded council that the area that they serve is vast, stretching from the N1 highway to Melkbosstrand.
After his presentation, ward councillors raised some of their concerns.
Taxis cannot be wished away
Cheryl Visser, councillor for Ward 1 which includes Kleinbosch, Monte Vista, Panorama, Plattekloof and Welgelegen, said that in her ward, they do not have public transport and that there is a need for taxis because of this.
“We cannot wish them away.”
Visser said taxis drop students at a college in the area daily.
She said she would like to request a meeting where they could be informed about possible new routes, and how many more permits are being issued to taxi operators.
Miquette Temlett, councillor for Ward 5 which includes Bothasig, Edgemead, Burgundy Estate and Richwood, in return asked whether it would be possible to get some sort of notice as to when patrols and roadblocks will be conducted in an area.
She said residents often complain that they hardly ever see traffic services in the community.
“It would be good if we can tell them when traffic services were in the area and when they are going to be there.”
She said taxis is also a concern in her ward, especially in Edgemead where they drive into oncoming traffic.
“Residents have to drive on the pavement,” she explained.
According to Schronen a task team had been deployed to the area recently where they impounded several taxis.
“The reality is that we are not as many as we want to be,” Schronen said.
‘Taxis are a law unto their own’
Joy Solomon, councillor for Ward 1 which includes Table View, Parklands and Killarney Gardens, said her concern is that more fines are being issued to regular road users than to taxi drivers.
“They are a law unto their own,” said Solomon.
Schronen responded saying that they are busy with patrols this coming week in the Table View area.
Anthony Benadie, councillor for Ward 4 which includes Milnerton Ridge and Joe Slovo Park, said he is aware that resources are limited. “But the way the taxis are driving is absolutely insane. We need to get a bit more strict on the taxi behaviour in our area.”
Benadie said trucks that park illegally on pavements, blocking traffic in his ward, is another concern, especially in Montague Gardens.
Schronen responded saying the difficulty with Montague Gardens is that, because it is an industrial area, they often have trucks offloading or loading goods.
