An open letter about taxis

Mpho Manyikana (email):

I am a resident of Goudrand Ext 3, a residential area known to locals as “RBA” which is adjacent to Mathole along the Randfontein road. This area is next to the old Durban Deep mine and therefore I use the old Durban Deep road to Roodepoort on a daily basis.

I am very much disturbed by what happens on the said road every day. The traffic lights at the intersection of the above-mentioned road and the Randfontein road are always not working, which is something we are used to anyway. My concern is the reckless manner in which taxi drivers and other “private” drivers drive their motor vehicles along this road.

In the morning when approaching the intersection from the Durban Deep direction, there is usually a slight traffic congestion due to the traffic lights not working and many taxi drivers instead of waiting their turn, they drive outside the tar road on the gravel where their vehicles make a lot of dust. They do this in order to reach the intersection quicker where they cause another traffic jam because they want to re-join the tar road at the intersection in front of everyone else. What worries me is that the traffic cops are always there every morning but they do not do anything to discourage these taxi drivers from causing the traffic jam and they just let them squeeze their taxis in front of other cars at the intersection without reprimanding them.

In the evening, especially at around 18H00, taxis coming from the Roodepoort direction recklessly drive in the right hand lane facing oncoming traffic. Vehicles driving towards Roodepoort have to make way for these taxis regardless since these taxi drivers show no respect at all for the rule of law or for other road users and they boldly break every rule of the road as they know that the authorities won’t do anything about it. What is more disturbing is that even if the traffic cops may spot a taxi driving on the wrong side, they will simply look away or have a little chat with the driver, where after you will see the taxi proceeding again on the wrong lane.

These drivers have little, if any regard at all for other road users and the authorities are not doing anything about it. In the result, it is the law abiding “private” drivers that suffer at the hands of these ruthless taxi drivers.

Is there no one responsible enough to do their job and arrest these ruthless drivers on the spot? We really cannot tolerate to be insulted by these guys endlessly and unless the powers that be do something about it, I foresee a lot of road rage incidents or death since many law abiding people are really tired of these taxi drivers’ attitude and behaviour and some of us are losing the little patience that was left.