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STANDING EMPTY: The new R400-million Bloemfontein taxi rank which is not being used. PhotoS: NTWAAGAE SELEKA

MONEY WASTED: Greater Mangaung Taxi Association deputy chairman Leemisa Seloana.

Hundreds of taxis operate from the city's streets, while the R400-million taxi rank has been turned into a "white elephant".

The rank was declared "non-operative" after taxi owners refused to operate from there.

Taxi owners and drivers claimed the expensive structure was defective and needed serious reworking before they could use it.

The taxi operators claimed two taxis could not go in and out of the rank at the same time and that they were forced to make commuters wait in long queues, which adversely affected the flow of traffic.

They also claimed that commuters had to climb two flights of stairs to get to the taxis. They said commuters complained because the single lift was frequently out of order because of the high number of people using it.

Deputy chairman of the Greater Bloemfontein Taxi Association, Leemisa Seloana, said the new structure was a waste of money.

Construction on the taxi rank started in 2009 as part of the 2010 Fifa World Cup preparations and was expected to be operational before the soccer tournament took place.

"We were happy when they demolished our old taxi rank, which was bigger than this one. Government promised us a state-of-the-art rank. Instead, they did not even meet the completion deadline," Seloana said.

He said in December they were forced to use the new rank by law enforcement agencies, including the army.

In January taxi operators returned to the streets after realising that they were losing money and commuters were becoming frustrated.

Mangaung mayor Thabo Manyoni yesterday conceded that some parts of the rank, including the entrance and exit, needed to be fixed.

"The problem is another building in front of the rank. We are currently negotiating with the owner to demolish it.

"He wants R3-million. We want to pay him a market-related amount because what he wants is way too much," Manyoni said.

"I want the rank to be operational by October this year." - ntwagaes@sowetan.co.za

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Sun May 19 18:27:07 SAST 2013 ::

Jul 26, 2012

eisleben

Taxi operators and their drivers will appreciate nothing but chaos. As soon as they smell order and regulation they spiral into violence and misogyny. I never envy the duty of any public officer who has to enforce law and order over these thoughtless creatures.
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Jul 26, 2012

Bhali

I feel sorry for our government. They don't use taxis and therefore had no idea that operating on the streets and floating is more profitable for taxi operators than standing at a rank. What a waste of money...
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Jul 26, 2012

Mbedzhana

Hi Sowetan this is not news to us. Please tell us what is happening in Siria, if the President is still alive, cought os was only sexually abused by rebels.
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Jul 27, 2012

knobkirrie

Mbedzhana: THIS is news, if people are affected by a substandard structure worth that kind of money, it does have an adverse effect to people's lives and the economy. Imagine if that taxi rank fully operational, diferrent types of businesses would be converged in that place. i dont know what you think makes the economy works, but its the lady who sells amagwinya to commuters, and the man who sells tobacco to commuters, that's how money moves around and the economy working
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