Taxi Ranks In Soweto

[Vikki Nagindas]

Gautengtransport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela has urged commuters who rely on taxis belonging the Nancefield-Dube West Taxi Association (Nanduwe) and Witwatersrand Taxi Association (Wata) to make alternative transport arrangements.

This as her office moves to close taxi ranks and routes belonging to the two rival associations after a recent resurgence of violence between them which also threatens the safety of passengers and residents.

For years, the two associations have been at each other's throats over four routes in Soweto. This has led to violent shootings which both parties claim to have led to the death of nearly 160 of their members combined, in the past eight years.

We did not mind sharing the routes, in fact, we still do not. Instead, over the years Nanduwe has been trying to completely take over our routes by intimidating us and pushing us out of our own routes.

"We have written to the MEC's office through our lawyers asking that she enforce the court order. We have given her seven days to respond to our requests after which we will take the matter back to the courts. We have said this and we will say it again, we want to work together."

Nanduwe PRO Joseph Ngcobo said they did not agree with the court order as they believed they had sole rights to the routes. Those routes are ours and our permits say that. Why must they come into our routes and take commuters. It's wrong.

With the already worrisome unemployment rate, such a move would seek to make our drivers part of the statistics. They rely on taxis to put food on the table. What will become of them if operations are suspended?"

Vadi said the conflict had claimed the lives of three WATA members in January 2019 and several attacks on minibus taxis had taken place since then. On the day of the announcement to close the taxi routes, six people had been shot and 10 cars damaged.

The two associations drafted an agreement on how the plan would be implemented. Only NANDUWE taxis were to pick up passengers at the taxi ranks and nearby pick-up points, and WATA-affiliated taxis were to begin their pickups further away.

The association says it decided to stop operations after the Gauteng Transport Department impounded 47 taxis belonging to Wata and Nancefield Dube West Association (Nanduwe) taxi associations on Friday.

They had been operating between Soweto and the Joburg CBD without permits after the Gauteng Transport MEC, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, suspended them following renewed tensions between the two associations.

The Department says MEC Diale-Tlabela is in the process of publishing a notice in the provincial gazette indicating her intention to close taxi ranks and routes in Soweto where the two associations operate.

Earlier this week, Gauteng Roads and Transport MEC Ismail Vadi slapped the Witwatersrand African Taxi Owners Association (WATA) and Nancefield Dube West Taxi Association (Nanduwe) with a three-month ban, barring them from operating at the six locations.

This followed a series of violent clashes between the groups since the beginning of the year, including the murder of WATA members SB Hadebe, treasurer SM Zwane and vice-chairperson MT Ngubane in January.

Several minibus taxis were attacked over several days in February in Diepkloof. Armed men prevented taxis from operating on March 1 and, four days later, another attack left six people wounded and 10 vehicles damaged.

The nine impounded taxis were found queuing at Mahalefele Street in Phefeni, Soweto. The taxis were later taken to Orlando East Police Station. The owners of those taxis will face prosecution in terms of the regulations that were promulgated by Vadi.

"We concluded that no taxi owner, driver or queue marshal will be allowed to carry a firearm in those taxi ranks, whether the weapon was licensed or not. We are going to meet with Vadi and Gauteng Premier David Makhura in Soweto on Saturday afternoon to address this issue.

"We are suffering and our passengers are suffering too. They have to walk long distances to catch taxis, buses or trains to go to their various destinations. The situation is very painful to all of us," said Maphalala.

"The ANC calls on the two taxi associations to find the middle ground and ensure that they put the interest of commuters first. The closure of the affected taxi ranks and routes will no doubt impact negatively on commuters, however, the safety of public transport users is of paramount importance.

"Public transport, especially the taxi industry has been playing a pivotal role in propelling the economy of Gauteng by transporting commuters to various parts of the province thus enabling economic activity," said Motara.

She added the party remained committed to ensuring the transformation of the public transport sector through investment in the modernisation of public transport infrastructure and giving commuters access to a more integrated, accessible, affordable, reliable and safe public transport system.

The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) also welcomed the closure of the taxi ranks, although it said it was worried about the negative impact the closure would have on the economy.

The union condemned territorial disputes that result in death and injury. It hoped that an amicable solution through the current negotiation process will resolve existing violence and tensions between the two associations.

The Gauteng government has announced the closure of the ranks and related routes operated by the Nancefield Dube West Taxi Association (NANDUWE) and Witwatersrand Taxi Association (WATA) in Soweto in the wake of an ongoing taxi war.

The layout which appears to be an arcade draws attention to the structural spine along the whole length of the site. Bara Mall spans over 1300 meters along Old Potch Road and across Chris Baragwanath Hospital is on average only 50 meters wide. The oblong shape of the site has posed a serious challenge to meet the extended accommodation requirements and its functionality. This arcade becomes the binding element for the development onto which all the various functional requirements are attached. Commuters would walk along the arcade from one public facility to the next, from one transport station to the next. The arcade is the focal point of the development within which the greatest number of traders and public amenities and spaces are positioned.

The enormous length of the arcade was spatially differentiated in reference to the functions that happen along it. Landmark structures have been positioned at focal points and public entry points to ensure a greater sense of orientation. These landmark towers also become the focus of artwork done by local inhabitants, to enhance the sense of identity and ownership.Pedestrian access to the site is of primary importance as to make transition in and out of the site as easy as possible so it is possible to approach the ranks from any direction creating a porous space which ultimately affects the genus loci of the space.

As nearly 70% of all Soweto commuters use the interchange, the design wanted to acknowledge the importance of the Transport facility and market in the Soweto context. The Taxi Rank and Market has become the train station of the past, the gathering place for the greatest number of its citizens. Concrete was consciously used with the aim to provide a more robust, permanent structure, acknowledging the importance of these types of buildings within our community. The material was sculpturally applied to avoid a monotonous application, given the length of the building.

The development was divided into three phases. It accommodates 500 street traders with associated amenities, which include storage facilities, management offices and support infrastructure. The trader stands vary in size to accommodate the different types of street traders. 20 Bus ranking facilities are required to serve the needs of both long and short distance bus operators. The taxi industry, represented by 12 different operators, have a combined requirement for approximately 800 ranking and holding bays.

GautengMEC for Transport and Logistics Kedibone Diale-Tlabela has urged commuters inSoweto who rely on minibus taxis belonging to the Nancefield-Dube West TaxiAssociation (NANDUWE) and Witwatersrand Taxi Association (WATA) to makealternative transport arrangements from today, Monday, 08 April 2024.

MECDiale-Tlabela, in terms of section 91 of the National Land Transport Act, is inthe process of publishing a notice in the provincial gazette indicating herintention to close affected NANDUWE and WATA taxi ranks and routes in Soweto.

You either call 011 930 7461 between Monday and Friday 08:00 and 17:00 or email in...@sowetotheatre.com to submit a request to be included in the database. You can also fill in the form on the right hand side of this website to be added to the Soweto Theatre database.

You can catch a minibus taxi from Joburg CBD at the Bree taxi rank. Within Soweto, Bara and Dobsonville taxi rank are your best options.

There is a Rea Vaya drop off point on Koma Rd 200 metres from the theatre.

Inhlanzane Train Station is situated along the Naledi line and is also 200 metres away from the theatre.

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