R13 million allocated for upgrading minibus taxi ranks in eThekwini

The eThekwini Municipality Transport Authority (ETA) has budgeted to spend R13 million from its Public Transport Infrastructure funds to upgrade minibus taxi ranks.

The eThekwini Human Settlements, Engineering, and Transport Committee tabled a report at a council meeting on Tuesday, detailing the ETA plan to spend R5.6 million on the erection of fencing at various public transport ranks and a further R4 million on public transport lay-bys and shelters.

The implementation of public transport stop shelters and rank fencing is planned for approximately 100 identified areas, estimated at R20,000 each.

Also, an amount of R1 million is budgeted for City Architects' Design, development, and testing of vandal-proof new shelter specification. The report stated that the money has been allocated to implement the Public Transport facilities fencing.

Some of the highest budgeted amounts were:

• Anderson taxi rank, Pinetown: R3 million 
• Canberra taxi holding area in Umbilo: R811,470 
• Swinton taxi rank in Mobeni: R761,691 
• Pandora taxi rank, Phoenix: R761,000 

• Magabeni taxi rank: R500,000 
• KwaMnyandu taxi rank, Umlazi:R500,000 
• Mbumbulu taxi rank: R500,000 
• Ezindongeni taxi rank, Umlazi: R437,000 
• Hillcrest/Clermont: R500,000 
• Newlands West taxi rank: R523,000 
• La Lucia: R571,000 

In summary, the report totalled R11 million for fencing and R1.9 million for shelters.

A source from the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) said the eThekwini region structures had assigned new members to some of their internal portfolios after a recent election.

The source, who is a major role player in the minibus taxi industry, said they were not aware of the projects, adding that some of the Durban taxi ranks were in a poor condition with inadequate signage and road markings.

Ashley Singh, chairperson of the Phoenix Taxi Association, mentioned plans to build shelters for minibus taxis in Phoenix and surrounding areas on a plot of land along Pandora Street.

Singh said that following the July 2021 unrest in Durban, some of the shopping malls in the surrounding areas of Phoenix were looted and burnt.

According to Singh, passengers and workers from Amaoti, Inanda, Newtown, KwaMashu, and Lindelani were brought to the Phoenix Plaza.

“The temporary taxi rank, which could hold 80 vehicles, was suddenly overcrowded, reaching a capacity of 300 at times. The rank was soon formalised, but the taxi drivers were still being penalised by police because of several issues. The taxi owners then informed the eThekwini Municipality of the problems faced with inadequate space and no resources for passengers and drivers. We welcome any upgrades to the rank,” he said.

Ish Prahladh, president of the eThekwini Ratepayers and Residents Association (ERRA), stated that the ratepayers' money was not channelled towards the right purposes.

He suggested that the money should have been allocated to build homes and clear out informal settlements, which have become a burden to ratepayers.

zainul.dawood@inl.co.za