Taxi drivers disregard notice
WELTEVREDEN PARK - Residents not happy with informal taxi rank inside shopping centre.
Though there is a sign clearly stipulating that taxis are not allowed inside Palm Court Shopping Centre, taxi drivers still continue to park their minibuses inside the shopping centre.
Resident Ansie Naudé says, she is disturbed by the fact that taxi drivers seem to have turned a portion of the parking lot at the centre into a taxi rank.
“It was bad enough with them outside, now it’s even worse with them inside the centre,” explained Naudé who says come 12 noon daily, the centre looks like a taxi rank. “My main concern is that taxi drivers might take over the whole centre.”
Another point she raised, is that the presence of these taxis might be bad for other tenants at the centre. “Other people will just pass by and go shop somewhere else when they see the taxis because this does not look decent.”
The criminal element was also brought into the picture. “There is too much movement around there and sometimes you can’t tell if it’s commuters or criminals just waiting for their next prey,” said Naudé.
David Ntabane, who is a taxi queue marshall at the centre, said there was no better place for them to have a taxi rank than at Palm Court. “If we park on the side of the road or outside the centre, Metro Police give us fines and we decided to just park inside the centre.” He admitted that though they are aware of the sign saying No taxis allowed inside the centre, “Unfortunately we don’t have anywhere else to park. We are waiting for our commuters who are domestic workers and some of the staff at the shops in the centre, including the security guards.”
He added that if they move from the centre, their commuters would suffer. “We are also trying to make a living and support our families.” Ntabane mentioned that they were willing to work with the centre management to ensure that both parties are satisfied.
Fred Rothmann, portfolio manager for JHI, which manages the shopping centre, said they were aware of the situation and are currently exploring the best way to deal with the situation. “We have contacted the Metro Police several times and had no response from them.” Rothmann said they did not only log calls with Metro Police for the taxi rank, but to also deal with vagrants and informal traders outside the boundary fence. He said the only solution they foresee in resolving the matter is to involve a towing company. “Once removed from the centre, owners will have to pay the towing company to have their vehicles released from the impound,” concluded Rothmann.
