Getrude Makhafola

Getrude Makhafola

Women's rights activists in Gauteng came out with guns blazing and vowed to push for the closure of the notorious Noord Street taxi rank.

The group - from NGOs, business and various political organisations - gathered in Johannesburg yesterday under the auspices of the Progressive Women's Movement of South Africa.

"There are concerns that the situation continues unabated. Though there have been raids, the attitude [of taximen] does not seem to have changed," the movements Gauteng convener and Tshwane mayor Gwen Ramokgopa said

"There has to be a serious intervention. We must make Noord Street an example for other ranks."

Ramokgopa said said they were expecting two progress reports - one from the community safety task team and the other from the Human Rights Commission and Tshwaranang Legal Advocacy Centre.

Women have been sexually assaulted and stripped by taxi drivers at the Noord Street rank.

"The disregard for other people's rights, especially women's rights, must end," Dorothy Ramodibe of the IFP Women's Brigade said.