Santaco urges Joburg to address flooding at Bree Street Taxi Rank
The South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) in Gauteng has called on the City of Joburg to address the waterlogged loading bays at Bree Street Taxi Rank.
The taxi council says the flooding at the taxi rank is due to blocked drains, a situation made worse by the recent heavy rains.
The taxi rank is one of the busiest in the city, serving commuters who are travelling to different destinations in Gauteng.
The flooded bays have, however, caused chaos over the past few days, with taxis parked on the left and right lanes of Lilian Ngoyi and Gwigwi Mrwebi streets.
Santaco spokesperson Sebata Mbobo says the situation is a nightmare.
"The rank is closed because there is water in that loading bay. The loading bay that loads Randburg, Orange Farm and the entire Vaal cannot be used because it is filthy and has dirty-smelling water there; hence, all these taxis are parked outside.
"I think if the municipality can respond quickly, then this problem can be resolved. They just need to block that water from going into the rank, and then everything can go back to normal.”
Mbobo says the reconstruction work in Lilian Ngoyi, following last year’s gas explosion, has had no impact on their operations.
"The Bree Street explosion is not the problem because we have been operating properly even after the explosion".
Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda announced the start of the project to repair the damage at Lilian Ngoyi Street (formally Bree Street) last week.
July’s gas explosion claimed one life and left a trail of destruction over a stretch of nearly 400 metres of road.
It's reported the blast was caused by a spark that ignited methane gas that had been leaking into the underground tunnel.
The area has been closed off to the public over safety and vandalism concerns for nearly six months, limiting access for residents and bringing business to a halt.
ALSO READ:
