CONSTANTIA | WYNBERG
Whatnot Shoes
Checkers Centre Plumstead
www.thewhatnotshoes.co.za Telephone: 021 762 3716
“Jocelyn”
genuine leather
R 889.-TUESDAY 8 December 2020 | Tel: 021 910 6500 | Email: post@peoplespost.co.za | Website: www.peoplespost.co.za
@ThePeoplesPost
People’s Post
Residents complain Egham Road is being used as an illegal taxi rank.
WYNBERG
Road ‘gone to a dump’ NETTALIE VILJOEN NETTALIE.VILJOEN@MEDIA24.COM
“I
t is more than hell here in the street. It is scary, it is dirty and nothing is being done about it.” This is how a resident describes Egham Road, Wynberg, which, she says, is currently being used as an illegal taxi rank. The resident, who asked not to be named for fear of victimisation, lives in Eghamhof. She says the problem has been getting progressively worse. Besides the increasing number of taxis parked there, people are now also selling and using drugs in the road, she says. “I am from Mitchell’s Plain and I never saw anything like this, people sitting in full view, with plastic bags over their heads, using drugs,” she says, adding that when police do come out, it is just business as usual the next day. Another resident of Eghamhof, who also wishes to remain anonymous, says the road has “gone to a dump”. “The smell in our flat is just terrible from the drugs and the wee (urine). We have all been living here forever. We know how it was compared to how it is now. It is like chalk and cheese. Our friends and family don’t want to visit us anymore,” she says. Melvin Smith, a trustee of Eghamhof’s body corporate, says the overflow of taxis
from Morom Road (also an illegal taxi rank) are parking in Egham Road. Smith says, on any day, up to 10 taxis can be found parked in the short road. He says he is at his wits’ end. “For the past couple of years, we’ve been moaning and groaning with all the powers that be, but it seems there is no will from above to stop these problems. The City is absolutely not interested in our well-being, but they are interested in our rates. This City is not working for us.” Liz Brunette, the councillor for ward 62, confirms that taxis parking illegally on the sidewalks and in the road at Morom Road are detrimental to the area. “Many taxi operators allow their drivers to park off-route at the Wynberg Public Transport Interchange (PTI). There is no stacking space or ranks available for taxis travelling to destinations that are not official routes to Wynberg, so the taxi drivers park on the Prasa property next to Morom Road and all the surrounding roads, including Egham Road,” Brunette says. Smith blames the overrun of taxis on the council for “issuing permits without thinking of the logistics”. However, Brunette points out that it is the provincial government that issues taxi licences. “The City and police are responsible for policing them. The City issues fines and taxis belonging to repeat offenders are impounded. A taxi owner whose taxi has been impounded has to pay
a minimum fine of R9 000 to release the taxi, and the amount increases every time the taxi is impounded,” she adds. Brunette also acknowledges that drug dealing in Egham Road has been a problem for a long time. “Drugs have been sold in Egham Road since before I was elected as the ward councillor; initially by dealers in the surrounding buildings and now on the streets, as occurs elsewhere at the PTI,” she adds. As to residents’ claims that nothing concrete is being done to solve the ongoing problem, Brunette says transport enforcement unit officers have not been assigned to the Wynberg PTI. “This year (the City’s) safety and security assigned four law enforcement officers to work in the Wynberg PTI and CBD, and they have made a number of arrests in the past few months. Police also patrol the PTI and arrest people who are breaking the law. Vehicles driving through the interchange may take 30 minutes to travel through the interchange, hence the chaotic congestion,” she says. Brunette adds that the City’s traffic police conduct operations at least once a month at the PTI and CBD, with assistance and backup from law enforcement and police. “Wynberg law enforcement and police are aware of the problems and will respond to complaints logged. Last week, I logged a City’s public emergency communications centre (PECC) complaint about the drug
dealers and addicts in Egham Road at about 10pm on behalf of a resident who had already logged and received reference numbers for many complaints,” Brunette says. Residents in the area between Morom Road and Egham Road are currently not part of the Wynberg Improvement District (WID) Special Rating Area. “This year I suggested that they apply to join the WID, which they have done and are following the City’s process for increasing the size of improvement districts,” she says. Felicity Purchase, Mayco member for transport, says the City is aware of the minibus taxi situation in Egham Road. She adds that in February, the City’s transport regulations department was informed of the illegal parking and loitering. “Upon investigation, it was established that 10 to 15 minibus taxi vehicles – mostly Mfuleni minibus taxis – illegally park/hold in this area and that the entrance to the loading area for Shoprite in Egham Road is blocked by minibus taxis on various occasions as a result. Numerous law enforcement initiatives were conducted on regular intervals,” she says. According to Purchase, the broader Wynberg transport facilities on both sides of the railway line has seen a significant increase in minibus taxi vehicles and passengers in the area the past five years “mostly due to the rapidly declining rail service”. V Continued on page 7.
POLES
UP TO
40%
DISCOUNT
h
NOW
Gates
40%
DISCOUNT
on Standard Horizontal Rustic Fencing Panels CCA treated H3
WAS R551 p.m. NOW R330 p.m.
WAS R 7750 NOW R 5270
KIDDIES WENDY
MASON TOOLS
32%
DISCOUNT
1. 2 m
h
x 2.4 m igh
WAS R208 p.m. NOW R125 p.m.
40%
DISCOUNT
T’s & C’s apply
TIMBACORE RUSTIC PICKET FENCING
Balau, Garapa & Massaranduba STOCK CLEARANCE SALE eg. 8 seater J.Sleeper Table & Chairs
All Mason tools with life time guarantee
15 Farad street Stikland, Bellville, ( NEXT to the
WAS R 25 986.00 incl. vat NOW R 17 670.00 incl. vat
On current stock only! T’s & C’s apply
RUSTIC FENCING
H3-TREATED, 20 YEAR SABS APPROVED
RAILWAY SLEEPERS Customize to your specifications
HARDWARE
T’s & C’s apply
32%
DISCOUNT ON RAILWAY SLEEPERS & OTHER HARDWOOD FURNITURE
Garapa Gold 20 x 90
• Structural Timber • PAR • Loglap Weather Board • Tongue & roove V Joint • Sleeper Wood Planks • Flooring Planks • Rustic Timber Shiplap • Knotty Pine, etc
POSTS
067 404 5793
20%
DISCOUNT
each Bring in a copy of this ad to qualify for the Discount price only
ON RETAIL NOW (T’S & C’S APPLY)
GARAPA DECKING ALSO DO BALAU & MASSARANDUBA
We Supply and install
Supply and Deliver to the
DIY
HORIZONTAL FENCING
140 x 140mm square posts up to 9.6m CCA Ttd. H4 Also Stock 102 x 102mm Post 95 x 95mm Post 69 x 69mm Post
Freeway) TEL: 021 949 5555 •021 425 2555 • www.timbacore CELL: 081 598 0006
CLAIM YOUR
R 460
STRUCTURAL TIMBER
•Standard width: 0.9m igh 1.8m
Standard Heights: 1.2m 2.1m 1.5m 2.4m 1.8m 3.0m
1. 8 m
WAS R 618 p/m NOW R 370 p/m
CI PE A
L
Slatted Timber Fencing CCA, H3 Treated 21mm slats eg . 1.8m high
S
MANUFACTURE - INSTALL - RETAIL STORE - DIRECT TO PUBLIC
WOOD SEAL 5 LITRE IAL P
CE RI
Chat to our experienced staff who will gladly assist with your project, saving you money And helping you get it right the first time
SP E C
Gum & Pine Rough & Machined
071 602 5939
Retail Shop: Open Mon - Thurs: 07:30 - 17:30 Fri: 07:30 - 16:00 • Sat & Public Holidays 7:30 to 13:00 X1WFXWU9-QK081220