Fresh from adopting a new bylaw to fast-track the installation of CCTV cameras in Mthatha, King Sabata Dalindyebo municipal bosses are now moving to address the traffic chaos on its urban roads, particularly the complete disregard for the law among many taxi drivers.
For years, taxi operators have been the bane of other motorists’ lives, often stopping suddenly in the middle of the road to drop off or pick up passengers in some of Mthatha’s busiest streets and causing traffic congestion at peak hours.
Despite having designated taxi ranks in town, operators have converted some streets into makeshift ranks.
According to the draft bylaw, any taxi operator, bus driver or meter taxi driver caught loading or offloading passengers on a public road or illegal taxi rank would be fined R2,000 and have their vehicle impounded.
An extra charge of R200 would be payable each day the vehicle was kept in municipal storage.
Taxi operators driving without number plates would be fined R1,000 and have their vehicles impounded.
Those who threatened or resisted/obstructed an officer or a municipal employee from carrying out their duties would be liable for a R1,000 fine and arrest.
Taxi drivers who fixed their vehicles in designated taxi ranks and other public transport facilities would be fined R1,000 and their vehicles would be impounded.
People who washed cars in ranks would be hit with a R100 fine and possible arrest.
KSD municipal spokesperson Sonwabo Mampoza said on Thursday the local authority had also recently adopted a final draft public transport bylaw which would assist in traffic management and address the breakdown of the rule of law on roads in town in Mthatha and Mqanduli.
“Every motorist will now have to comply with the law.
“Our town is congested and there is a complete disregard for regulations.
“This [bylaw] is also in line with our efforts to turn Mthatha into a smart city,” he said.
“You cannot talk about a smart city while everybody does what they like on the roads.”
In 2018, a KwaZulu-Natal company contracted by KSD to implement a paid parking and traffic management system in Mthatha said its cameras were recording more than 2,000 road transgressions in the town centre every day.
In 2022, the municipality raked in more than R130,000 after issuing nearly 500 traffic fines in just two weeks.
More than 106 fines were issued to motorists for illegally parking in town and obstructing traffic.
People caught without a valid driver’s licence while ferrying passengers would be liable to a R2,000 fine and their vehicles would be impounded.
Those who did not comply with instructions from law enforcement officers would be arrested.
According to an official document seen by the Dispatch, there was a need to regulate public transport in Mthatha and the KSD municipal area to ensure the safety of commuters and the effective and efficient operation of public transport.
Up until now, the municipality has been relying on the national legislative framework, even though Section 11 of the National Land Transport Act 5 of 2009 mandated all spheres of government to take responsibility in this regard.
“It therefore becomes vital to develop a bylaw that will regulate the operation of public transport, prohibit certain conduct and create offences and penalties [in the] event of transgressions.
“Chiefly, among [the] issues that it will effectively address is to provide for the establishment and operation of minibus taxi and bus ranks, stops and holding areas on municipal property,” the document reads.
The bylaw would also help to regulate the operation of public transport facilities and in the issuing of rank permits for the use of public transport facilities.
The document noted that KSD was facing “a serious decay of public transport infrastructure in the form of roads and ranks”, which compromised transport planning.
Mthatha businessman and Eastern Cape Chamber of Business president Vuyisile Ntlabati said taxi operators were the main contributor to traffic congestion in Mthatha.
Sometimes other motorists had to take back roads to get from one side of town to another.
“They stop anywhere, even in residential areas, to pick up passengers. We do not know how it can be addressed.
“They are a law unto themselves. They operate ranks in the middle of the streets and they have a complete disregard for other motorists,” Ntlabati said.
He said the chaos on the roads was also contributing towards the perceived reluctance of businesses to invest in Mthatha despite its huge potential for growth and development opportunities.
However, Mthatha Ratepayers and Residents’ Association spokesperson Madyibi Ngxekana accused KSD of trying to impose the bylaw on citizens, saying they had not been consulted.
DispatchLIVE
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.