A state-of-the-art taxi rank in Limpopo is finally set to be used by the public after more than a decade under construction. Situated at the heart of Thohoyandou shopping complex, the multi-million rand building was deemed to have failed to meet required safety standards upon its completion in 2013.

While more than R275-million of tax-payers’ money has been spent on the taxi rank structure, cracks on most of its concrete slabs are a visible sign of shoddy work done by the appointed contractors.

The taxi rank was left abandoned for over 10 years and its condition deteriorated. The structure is currently surrounded by overgrown bushes and trees which have not been cut back nor removed for years.

Promise after promise

Despite consistent concerns and questions raised by the public and local politicians, the Thulamela Local Municipality and the Limpopo Department of Transport kept on making promises that the taxi rank would be opened for the public ‘soon’ but that delay lasted for more than a decade without any progress.

“I have been running my hair braiding business just a few metres away from the taxi rank for years. I have lost hope that one day the building will ever operate, because if you look around, it has cracks all over and should it be used in its current state, it might pose safety risks for commuters,” says Mulalo Mugeri, who runs an informal business in Thohoyandou.

Millions more to save a white elephant

At the beginning of October this year, Limpopo premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba pumped another R50-million towards the renovation of the taxi rank, with the aim of repairing some of the worrying cracks in the building structure.

Mugeri told Elitsha that he was shocked to learn from his local radio station that the ‘abandoned’ rank whose dilapidation he has witnessed over the past years is finally set to be opened to commuters. “To be honest, given what I have seen about that rank, I used to think that they were just waiting for the right time to demolish the structure as I do not think that it is suitable to be used by the public,” says Mugeri.

“Why did it take them so long to realise that the rank can still be renovated and be used?” he asks. “Something just does not add up and I believe that whatever they are planning to do is being motivated by the upcoming elections.”

Mugeri is not the only one concerned about the latest developments regarding the Thohoyandou taxi rank.

‘A disaster waiting to happen’

Melvin Mathebula, who drives taxis on the Thohoyandou-Malamulele route that is supposed to move to the new rank as soon as it is opened to the public, says that he is worried about the safety of both commuters and drivers. “It has been said that the rank will be used by both the buses and taxis, which from my own observation, is just a disaster awaiting to happen. The rank is designed to carry buses on the first floor and taxis on the ground floor but it is already showing cracks before it’s used,” says Mathebula.

Mathebula is hoping the relevant authorities reconsider their decision. “They need to sit down and brainstorm a way forward because I do not think that the idea to use that rank is wise as people can die as a results of that structure. Until I am given evidence that states clearly that it is safe to use the rank, I will not risk my life and that of the commuters,” says Mathebula.

During her visit to the rank in the first week of October, Ramathuba said that they have already appointed a contractor to renovate and repair all the structural faults. She promised that the rank will be opened within the next 8 months. But the appointed contractor has yet to start work.

Taxi association not impressed

The South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) in Vhembe told Elitsha that they are not encouraged by the provincial government’s decision to renovate the building. They will wait for evidence to assure them that it is safe to use the rank, failing which they will not move their taxis to the proposed rank.

Ramathuba has guaranteed the public that the rank will be in a usable condition and ready to accommodate commuters next year.