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WYNBERG'S transport interchange, centred on and around the Wynberg railway station, was described as "dysfunctio?nal" at last week's Protea Subcouncil meeting because of the traffic situation in the area. Shop owners in the vicinity say there are more alarming problems too, such as drug peddling, and both the subcouncil and the shopkeepers want something to be done about it.

Shop owners say that traffic congestion is created primarily by ta?xis and is so bad that people avoid the area altogether.

John Ve-leca, owner of Texie's Wynberg in Church Street, says that the main problem is "taxis who think they own the road".

"They park anywhere in the road and it doesn't matter to them. I've had experience where drivers stop in the middle of the road, get out and have a chat with someone, and when you say something about it, they get rude with you."

Ve-leca also pointed out forgotten parts of the interchange which have been left unattended and only add to the eyesore that the area has become.

"There is an old municipal buil?ding that has had scaffolding up for more than two years and nothing has been done to it. It is rumoured to be sold as flats but it has been left as it is for all that time. It's not improving the area - it's just making it worse."

Ismail Rawoot, manager of Tasneem's Take-aways, also in Church Street, has tried to make enquiries about the particular building because of the problem it poses.

"The halt on any improvement is apparently finance-related. It was an old Home Affairs building and I went to speak to the Wynberg Improvement District (WID) about the structure because no one was wor?king on it. It is only a skeleton of a building and it takes parking away from the shops."

Rawoot says that his efforts have been in vain because nothing has changed.

He reiterated Ve-leca's problems with the taxis, but also pointed to daily fighting and drug-peddling that take place in the open.

Both businessmen agree that a local tavern has added to the proble?matic situation, with public drin?king taking place often and regular fights that spill out into the streets.

Ve-leca says, "They are causing a lot of dirt, what with broken bottles in the street," while Rawoot adds that "every day, between 16:00 and 18:00, there is fighting" directly related to the alcohol consumption.

Rawoot says that the area is "open business" for drug dealers and police efforts don't seem to curb the problem. Inspector Janine Pienaar, Wynberg SAPS sector manager for the area, admits that it is a hot-spot for drugs and says that police are wor?king on it.

"There is a drug problem in the area and we plan weekly raids on the station where drugs are confiscated every time.

"But arrests have been difficult because the sellers don't keep the drugs on them.

"If they have a stand where they sell stuff, they will often keep the drugs elsewhere so we may be able to confiscate, but won't be able to make an arrest for possession."

Pienaar said that the traffic congestion was also making policing of the area more difficult.

"There are taxi-related problems and traffic congestion. When anything happens we don't have immediate access to the area.

"We do have operations with Me?tro Police. They issue fines to deal with the traffic because businesses have been complaining, about the taxis especially.

"But there are some taxi operators who are good guys and try and help us. They will see things and call the police or approach drug dealers and stop their business," she says.

All agree that Wynberg is in serious need of an upgrade and say that the area has gone down tremendously in recent years.

Rawoot has been doing business in Wynberg for a decade and says, "Wynberg is degrading and fewer people are coming here, so the area is going further down. Something needs to be done."

Last week's subcouncil meeting agreed to a petition that requested the city to set up a high-powered task team to address what was described as "the lack of coordination and control among stakeholders" such as the various taxi associations, the informal traders, the business community, police and council staff in the area, which has led to the problems in Wynberg.

The subcouncil noted the area as being in a "dysfunctional state" which, it is hoped, will be addressed as a result of the petition.

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