Local residents are up in arms over illegal taxi ranks that are allegedly sprouting in Laudium, 'taking over' land within the community.
Speaking to the Laudium Sun, an irate Veaney Hanson Mooloo of Bengal Street claimed: "There is a taxi rank operating at the park by the local flats on Bengal Street – across from the Shell garage. Every day there are 4 to 6 taxis parked there. This is how it all starts. No one does anything because it's not yet recognised as an illegal taxi rank, until it grows into a big issue. But, the palisade fencing there is being removed bit by bit and these guys are already leaving litter behind. In a few months, there'll probably be more taxis parked there and we'll be forced to accept the area as a taxi rank and the land will no longer be available for the community. Are there no laws against this?" the irate Veaney asked.
"I have seen, there is also another taxi rank developing across the Laudium Health Centre on Bengal Street. How is this even allowed, as there is a huge pylon (grid to carry power cables) there? This will just devalue the property in the area and invite more crime," Veaney continued.
Dee Du Plessis, who is a sports coach at Jacaranda Primary School, agreed with Veaney's claims. "For so many years we were told nothing can be built or closed off in that area due to the pylon…now there's a taxi rank there! How many taxi ranks does Laudium need? They have already taken over most of the parking bays in the CBD."
The Laudium Sun's attempt to obtain a comment from the Laudium Taxi Association was unsuccessful as their listed numbers appeared to be out of order.
Constable Nemasunduni of the Tshwane Metro Police Department told the Laudium Sun, "If the taxis are not obstructing traffic, it shouldn't be a problem. However, since these areas are not currently recognised as taxi ranks, it is still illegal."
Councillor Mahomed Essop told the Laudium Sun that the only legal taxi rank he knows of in Laudium, is the one in the Laudium CBD which has permission for only a few taxis to be parked there. He added that other 'taxi ranks' would therefore be deemed illegal, but mentioned that he was not currently aware of any and as far as he knew, there have been no 'illegal taxi ranks' reported.
Local residents, however, claim otherwise.
Another taxi depot? Taxis can be seen parked off, across Laudium Health Centre on Bengal Street.
Sports coach at Jacaranda Primary School, Dee Du Plessis, says taxis have taken over the Laudium CBD.
Frustrated resident, Veaney Hanson Mooloo.
A number of taxis use this park adjacent to the Bengal Street flats as a picking up point.