Jhb taxi spat continues

2003-06-17 14:20

Johannesburg - Taxi operations between central Johannesburg and Alexandra in the northern part of the city could be halted later on Tuesday because of continued instability, the Gauteng transport department said.

"The Gauteng MEC for public transport, Khabisi Mosunkutu, is not convinced that levels of instability around the rank and the route have decreased," departmental spokesperson Sizwe Matshikiza told Sapa.

Thousands of commuters were left stranded last week when the Alexandra, Midrand and Sandton Taxi Association went on strike to protest against the closure of part of a Noord Street parking garage in central Johannesburg by provincial authorities.

Authorities said the garage had become a haven for criminals.

Johannesburg council spokesperson Nthathisi Modingoane said: "The basement of the Jack Mincer parking garage at Noord Street in central Johannesburg was closed 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 have it re-opened."

Garage closed

Matshikiza added: "The parking garage basement will remain closed - it was being used for drug trafficking, women have been raped there - it is a breeding ground for all kinds of violence and it's not in the interest of commuters to re-open it, nor can the MEC be blackmailed into opening it.

"The MEC says that so far nothing has been done to convince him that taxi operations along this route are peaceful and normal and until they are the threat of closure remains very real."

Gauteng schools break-up on Friday, although no decision would be taken to close the rank or route until pupils had finished writing their exams, Matshikiza said.

A meeting would be held with the Alexandra community at the Alexandra Technical college at 18:00 on Wednesday to discuss transport problems.

"Johannesburg metro buses will run between Alexandra and Johannesburg pending a resolution of the problems currently affecting operations on this route and a fuller schedule of the bus services, presently running from Twist and Plein Streets, Johannesburg, to and from Alexandra will be introduced if problems in the ranks and routes persist," Matshikiza said.

- SAPA