​​​Minibus taxis traditionally dominate the bustling heart of Randburg’s Central Business District, lining pavements in chaotic, unsanctioned rows. Drivers congregate at every corner, engaging in animated conversation as they await their next load of passengers.

Amid the cacophony of honking horns and boisterous driver calls, commuters and pedestrians alike must navigate the disordered milieu, manoeuvring past vehicles that ebb and flow in constant motion, imbuing the CBD with an untamed dynamism.

The City of Johannesburg’s Transport Department has transformed an abandoned site adjacent to the Randburg taxi rank into a designated taxi holding facility. The plan envisions a structured area where taxis can queue methodically, eliminating the need for haphazard street parking that has congested Randburg’s thoroughfares. This facility is anticipated to streamline traffic, enhancing ease of movement for both residents and visitors, impose order in this chaotic CBD, while also benefiting local commerce through improved access and reduced gridlock.

Previously under the custodianship of the Johannesburg Property Company (JPC), the land had devolved into a derelict refuge for recyclers and pests. This neglect turned the area into a public health hazard, creating a rodent infestation and jeopardising the safety of residents and commuters. Recognising the urgent need for revitalisation, the Citizen Relationship and Urban Management (CRUM) department spearheaded a multidisciplinary initiative to reclaim and rehabilitate the site.

After extensive dialogue between the City’s Transport Department and the JPC, the green light was given to repurpose this land for the taxi holding facility. In collaboration with CRUM, the City’s Transport Department orchestrated a comprehensive three-day operation, enlisting a coalition of stakeholders including Pikitup, Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ), the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), Environmental Health, Social Development, the Johannesburg Roads Agency, the Environment and Infrastructure Services Department (EISD), and Randburg’s South African Police Service (SAPS), all meticulously preparing the grounds for the handover.

The highly anticipated ceremonial handover took place recently, presided over by Cllr Kenny Kunene, the MMC for Roads and Transport. He was joined by officials from the Executive Mayor’s Office and SANTACO’s Deputy Chairperson, Mashishi Mashishi.

Regional Director Sello Lemao welcomed the assembly and acknowledged the concerted efforts that had culminated in this historic occasion. Expressing gratitude to all contributors, Lemao emphasised the significance of the new holding facility in diminishing criminal activity that had previously plagued the site.

“We are elated to affirm that this land is now secured and under the taxi industry’s stewardship, a decisive step towards curbing the criminal behaviour that had once taken root here,” said Colonel Mudau of Randburg SAPS.

Representing the taxi industry, Mashishi remarked, “We are profoundly honoured to assume responsibility for this space. Our impeccable record in maintaining taxi ranks to the highest standards of cleanliness and order speaks for itself”.​

In his keynote, Cllr Kunene commended the collaborative efforts that brought the initiative to fruition, acknowledging the industry’s commendable history of upkeep across taxi ranks, which experience minimal crime under their watchful management. The event concluded with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, symbolising the official handover of the land to the Northern Taxi Liaison Committee, punctuated by a dynamic procession of taxis and patrol vehicles from affiliated associations.

Accompanied by the Regional delegation, the MMC was given a tour of the newly instituted facility by the Northern Taxi Liaison Committee, offering a glimpse into the various functions and operations now underway within the premises.

Written by Moipone Malaka
01/11/2024

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