Jhb commuter crisis looms

2003-06-12 19:52

Johannesburg - The Noord Street taxi rank and the route between central Johannesburg and Alexandra north of the city was threatened with closure on Thursday leaving thousands of commuters to find alternative transport.

The Gauteng MEC for public transport, Khabisi Mosunkutu, said in a statement that the taxi operations and the rank itself would cease to operate with effect from June 17 unless stability was restored and threats of violence ended.

"Bus services from Johannesburg Metro will run between Alexandra and Johannesburg pending a resolution of the problems currently affecting operations on this route," he said.

A fuller schedule of the bus services, presently running from Twist and Plein Streets, Johannesburg, to and from Alexandra will be introduced from June 17 if problems in the ranks and routes persist," Mosunkutu said.

More than a thousand commuters waited in vain for taxis to Alexandra and Midrand on Wednesday afternoon as members of the Alexandra, Midrand and Sandton Taxi Association called a strike to protest at the closure by provincial authorities of part of the Noord Street parking garage.

Johannesburg Metro spokesperson Nthathisi Modingoane said: "The basement of the Jack Mincer parking garage at Noord Street in central Johannesburg was closed recently because it was being used by criminal elements and it was unsafe. The Alex Midrand taxi association used the garage to park in off-peak periods and now they want to meet the province and have it re-opened."

Thursday's meeting to discuss and resolve these problems was chaired by Mosunkutu and attended by officials from law enforcement agencies, representatives of taxi owners and commuters.

- SAPA