Anger over plans for taxi rank in Goodwood

THE Goodwood Ratepayers and Residents Association is questioning the City’s intention to use a site off Goulburn and Station streets in Goodwood as an alternative temporary holding area for taxis.

The association alleged that not one City official or the ward councillor had advised them or the affected residents of the plan.

Chairperson Faizel Petersen said there were taxi-related shootings in Bellville recently, yet the City was planning on bringing taxis to residents’ doors.

“We received the document from a third party and were shocked as this will have a direct impact on the people that stay in that area. Already, as it is, neither the City’s law enforcement nor the province can manage the problem of taxis. We don’t know the purpose of this project, its duration, the lawenforcement measures being put in place, the impact on property owners and benefits, and who is paying for it.

“The ward councillor Cecile Janse van Rensburg said she was not aware of this. However, the document clearly states that she is responsible for community participation and residents’ concerns, as well as reporting back to the sub-council between July 5 and 12. If the ward councillor doesn’t know about this, then that is of great concern,” Petersen said.

He said the City was already not actively managing the problem of the taxi industry.

“The safety of the residents will be compromised. On numerous occasions in areas like Nyanga and Bellville there has been gun violence. With a taxi rank in a residential area there is bound to be an issue of noise nuisance that impacts people, and a lot of residents staying around the Goodwood station are pensioners.

“There is also an issue of informal trading that will take off when the taxi rank operates. Will that be allowed and how will the City control it?” Petersen asked.

He said the City needed to look properly at which land would have the least impact on the safety of residents and motorists.

City spokesperson Luthando Tyhalibongo said operators had created an illegal minibus taxi rank at Goodwood Station.

“At the moment the City is trying to mitigate the situation by first engaging all internal stakeholders,” he said.

Tyhalibongo said to facilitate the discussion, an email was sent out to officials and stakeholders about the proposal. However, a member of the public was erroneously copied in. He said the email was then forwarded, “regrettably leading to incorrect conclusions being drawn”.

“No decision has been made yet. Once all the internal input has been received and all due process has been followed, we will communicate with the relevant parties,” he said.