The Executive Mayor of Tshwane Cilliers Brink cutting a ribbon during the official opening of the Menlyn Park Shopping Centre Taxi Rank
The Executive Mayor of Tshwane Cilliers Brink official opened the Menlyn Park Shopping Centre Taxi Rank on
Thursday at Menlyn Park shopping Centre, Tshwane.
He was joined by the Taxi association members.
Following months of extensive negotiations with the Menlyn Park Shopping Centre
and the leadership of the Menlyn Taxi Association (MTA) and the Mamelodi
Amalgamated Taxi Association (MATA), facilitated by the City of Tshwane, the centre
has finally completed the construction of an additional taxi holding area inside the mall
to avoid illegal taxi holding mainly on Lois Avenue.
Menlyn Park Shopping Centre now boosts two taxi facilities that will accommodate
around 135 standard minibus taxis and 18 larger long-distance midi-buses.
“After lengthy and extensive engagements and a construction process that kick-started
last year, I am pleased to announce that the taxi holding area in Menlyn Park Shopping
Centre has been completed and officially launched,” said city of Tshwane Mayor Cilliers Brink.
He said this comes as a great relief to many of our residents and motorists who have had to suffer the inconvenience of operational chaos and severe congestion in Lois Avenue that was largely caused by
the lack of dedicated public transport facilities in the area.
Under the signed lease agreement with the taxi associations and Menlyn Park Shopping Centre, provision for has been made for two taxi facilities inside the mall
accommodating 135 standard minibus taxis and 18 larger long-distance midi-buses.
“As part of the agreement, space was also made for informal traders.
It has been agreed that four informal traders are permitted to trade inside the taxi holding facility
and on the street, particularly the Atterbury Roadside of the mall,” he said.
The new taxi rank inside the Menlyn Park shopping Centre
Brink said the taxi industry plays an important role in ensuring that the majority of the workforce
get to their destinations. So, it is important that we cooperate and have non-violent
working relations.
“I want to thank the MMC for Roads and Transport, Ald Katlego Mathebe, the Menlyn
Centre Management team, the leadership of the Menlyn Taxi Association (MTA) and
the Mamelodi Amalgamated Taxi Association (MATA), and the regional leadership of
the Tshwane Taxi Industry, respectively,” said mayor Brink.
He concluded that the launch of the Menlyn Taxi Rank speaks to our whole-of-society approach where the city works together with communities, the private sector and businesses to improve services and build a city that works for all its people.