Taxi rank a boost for Komani

Taxi owners and drivers in Komani welcomed the opening of a multimillion-rand taxi rank on Friday.

The rank was reportedly 90% complete in June 2014. However, due to a lack of funds, a temporary area was provided by the Enoch Mgijima municipality for taxi drivers between the Komani CBD and Mlungisi township. Taxi drivers had complained mulitple times about overcrowding as they had to share the temporary area with bus companies.

Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane said the provincial transport departmeinjected R8.9m to complete the project.

Uncedo Taxi Association chair Sandi Mgobo said the new rank would be great for business. “This taxi rank means a lot to us and it means the ANC-led government values our business. The new rank restores the dignity of the passengers who will use this facility.”

The rank boasts a waiting room, a satellite police station and 40 hawker stalls as well as a workshop that will sell car spares and service minibuses.

Mgobo said they would work with the municipality to maintain the rank, and keep it clean and safe.

Hawker Noxolo Mapipa said their new stalls, with lockable units, would keep their stock “safe”. “We have seen the new facilities and because we will have more taxis and passengers, our business will boom.”

Mabuyane said the government wanted to make sure the taxi industry contributed to economic growth.

On Sunday, Mabuyane led a government delegation to monitor the upgrades at the OR Tambo Garden of Remembrance at Tambo’s village, Nkantolo in Mbizana. It had been vandalised during a service delivery protest.

Mabuyane later opened the Khananda heritage site in Khananda village, in Mbizana.

The new rank restores the dignity of the passengers who will use this facility