TAXI ASSOCIATION FED-UP WITH CITY OF TSHWANE’S EMPTY PROMISES

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By Dimakatso Modipa

Pretoria United Long-Distance Taxi Association (PULDTA) Public Relations Officer (PRO) Groot Sithole at Dr Savage taxi rank in Pretoria CBD photo by Dimakatso Modipa
Pretoria United Long-Distance Taxi Association (PULDTA) Public Relations Officer (PRO) Groot Sithole at Dr Savage taxi rank in Pretoria CBD photo by Dimakatso Modipa

The Pretoria United Long-Distance Taxi Association (PULDTA) is fed-up with the City of Tshwane Municipality’s empty promises to fix toilets at the Dr Savage taxi rank in the CBD.

According to the association’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) Groot Sithole, the City of Tshwane Municipality has been lying to them for many years now regarding the issue of fixing toilets at the rank.

Pretoria United Long-Distance Taxi Association (PULDTA) Public Relations Officer (PRO) Groot Sithole showing toilets that have stopped working from 2021
Pretoria United Long-Distance Taxi Association (PULDTA) Public Relations Officer (PRO) Groot Sithole showing toilets that have stopped working from 2021

“Toilets at this rank have been out of order since 2021and our pleas to the City of Tshwane to fix these toilets have fallen on deaf ears and both passengers and drivers are having a nightmare when the need arises for them to make use of the toilets,” said Sithole.

“There is no water to flush the toilets and the tap that is outside the toilets has also stopped producing water, yet we reported this matter to the City of Tshwane many times, but the City of Tshwane has never bothered to address this matter,” said Sithole.

“Our passengers are suffering, especially women passengers because they need privacy when using a toilet unlike male passengers and drivers who can go to a corner and relieve themselves, but this is very difficult and impossible for women passengers,” lamented Sithole.

Water coming out of the tap but not toilets at Dr Savage taxi rank in Pretoria CBD
Water coming out of the tap but not toiletsat Dr Savage taxi rank in Pretoria CBD

He told Tshwane Talks that as an association they are heart-broken about the uncaring treatment that is meted out to them by the City of Tshwane Municipality.

“We can’t live like this because the situation is a health hazard to us and we have been operating under such an unhealthy environment for a long time now,” said Sithole.

He told Tshwane Talks that the association had been operating at Bloed Street Mall initially, but they were moved to the Dr Savage taxi rank after being promised that a beautiful mall will be built at the taxi rank and facilities like an ATM will also be made available for passengers and all people using the taxi rank.

Toilets at Dr Savage taxi rank not working with a curtain door
Toilets at Dr Savage taxi rank not working with a curtain door

“We have been writing emails, letters and making phone calls to the City of Tshwane Municipality without any success for more than three years now,” complained Sithole.

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