Twenty-four marshals will from now on keep an eagle eye on taxi drivers violating traffic laws on Table View’s main roads.
Earlier this year TygerBurger reported on the taxi issues that were discussed at a subcouncil 3 meeting in May (“TVRA also unhappy with taxis,” 24/05).
Now, though, following a lengthy discussion between the Table View Ratepayers’ Association (TVRA) executive and Dunoon Taxi Association (DTA) to find a solution to the negligent driver behaviour problem, there seems to be some relief for motorists.
A total of 24 marshals from Dunoon, consisting of taxi owners and unemployed residents of the area, now ensure that the rules of the road are obeyed. The marshals are deployed to Blaauwberg Road from Monday to Sunday mainly and are seen on some corners from 10:00 to 18:00.
“The DTA has placed marshals along strategic routes inclusive of Blaauwberg Road in the hope to recreate order.
“All stakeholders realised that we cannot have a society without taxis, and we are looking to the City of Cape Town to regulate and make sure that the road rules are enforced. This effort by the taxi association goes a long way to assist Law Enforcement, and to ensure the safety of commuters, to avoid territorial jealousy and to resolve the lawless behaviour of drivers,” says Mandy da Matta, TVRA vice-chairperson.
She says their association is happy about the outcome reached between the two parties.
“The idea came from a meeting we had in May earlier this year. Kudos to the Dunoon Taxi Association – no-one else.”
Mandy says the TVRA met with some of their drivers on numerous occasions.
“They took action, and now we see the results,” she says.
Mandy adds: “By speaking to one another, ideas came into action. This might work, and might not, but the idea is to work together and so doing create an environment that is instructive, not destructive.”
The TVRA also met with City of Cape Town officials in September to discuss other means of addressing the taxi issues.
“At the meeting we proposed that the City construct a taxi stop, similar to a bus stop, on Blaauwberg Road. We also want them to build a bus-stop cover and bench for the commuters,” Mandy says.
The TVRA is also working with the DTA to get this to realise.
Howard Ngcongco, DTA chairperson, says that since meeting with the TVRA, they have noticed results.
“Our first meeting in May was regarding the vehicles that are full and uncontrollable.
“A few months afterwards, nothing came up, but three weeks ago we as the DTA decided to deploy people to operate on the road and see how the taxis work daily.
“These marshals doing work on the road will check all the taxis, check if they have the proper stickers and also check for those that do not, which should then be impounded.
“Taxis should not just drive over red robots and drive recklessly,” Howard says.
Some of the marshals are on the road much earlier in the morning, he says.
“We have employed five from the community and then we have about 20 owners who just try to assist.”
He says if the operation is successful, they will continue with the initiative.
“We can already see the difference, from what we have done already,” Howard says.
He adds: “It seems like we cannot stop now; we are going to continue. The complaints we receive about taxis are down.”
The marshals are currently volunteering, with the ones from the community being rewarded after each day’s work, Howard says.
“Where there is a challenge, we will deal with it,” Howard says.
