PORT ELIZABETH
90 000 COPIES WEEKLY
PE Express Newspaper
@PEExpress1
WEDNESDAY May 22, 2013 |0 041 503 6111 | EÂmail express@media24.com | peexpress.mobi | www.peÂexpress.co.za
EDITOR: BETTIE GILIOMEE
Residents fume over informal taxi rank ZELDRÉ SWANEPOEL
mally demarcated area for public transportation has resulted in minibus taxis causing absolute chaos in the area as said taxis stop, park and turn wherever they want- often putting the lives of other motorists at risk. The status quo simply cannot remain; Council has to intervene and provide a dedicated area for public transportation,� Odendaal said. He said that when the informal taxi rank is turned into a formal area for taxis, it would enable council to provide policing, making it
R
ESIDENTS versus public transport commuters. This is the drama unfolding with the informal taxi rank on the corner of William Moffett Expressway and Springfield Road in Walmer. Minibus taxis are using the piece of vacant land which is central to four surrounding shopping centres, namely Walmer Park, Moffett on Main, 17th Quarter and the Figtree complex, to drop off and collect passengers who work nearby or shop at these centres. Many residents of the surrounding area, however, are not happy about the informal rank and want it shut down. Resident Tersia Strydom said the area is unhygienic and unsafe, and an eyesore. “The ground at the entrance and exit of the taxi rank has deep and unsafe burrows, due to the continuous high traffic use of the area,� Strydom said. She also complained about being harassed by the hawkers next to the taxi rank, and passers-by being mugged. “The area is being used as a toilet facility by people waiting for the taxis. This is very unhygienic, unsightly, smelly and very offensive for the residents of this area to be exposed to on a daily basis. The informal taxi rank is unlawful. Shut it down. If not, do something about the area,� she said. Ward 6 DA Councillor, Retief Odendaal, said although the area has developed into a big business node over the last number of years, Council has neglected to provide much needed public transportation infrastructure. “The William Moffett/Main Road Walmer intersection is undoubtedly one of the busiest intersections in the Metro. The lack of a for-
safer for both commuters and residents. He acknowledges the grievances of the residents but emphasised that public transport commuters have a right of access to the area. Strydom said the majority of the residents do not support the erection of a permanent taxi rank in this area. “We cannot wait for years for the Metro to find a workable solution. We cannot sit back for 3 to 4 years and wait for paperwork to be pushed forth and back.�
According to Odendaal, William Moffett Expressway is also earmarked to have an IPTS route.
SMS US your comments to 0 45530. Start your SMS with the word ‘PE’, followed by your comment.
Each SMS costs R1.50
Barefoot for charity
On April 16, all Willow Academy pupils went to school barefoot and each child donated a pair of shoes for the more needy. Willow donated all these shoes to Project Hope. PHOTO:SUPPLIED
BBM E4E FR PMx2
Brought to you by y Vodacom
NEW!
NEW! BLACKBERRYÂŽ Q10 LTE SMARTPHONE
SAMSUNG GALAXY S4 SMARTPHONE (I9500)
+ House of Marley Soul Rebel Headset
VODACOM 4U GREENACRES
R439
+
SHOP 16, SHOPRITE MALL, RING ROAD,, RT GREENACRES SHOPPING CENTRE, PORT ELIZABETH, 041 363 3607
HOUSE OF MARLEY SOUL REBEL HEADSET (VARIOUS STYLES AVAILABLE)
R429
PMx24
PMx24
Smart S
Smart S
Unlimited BBM Text PMx24
Free voicemail to SMS Conversion PMx3
Ĺœ •ˆŠ” ÂŒÂ›Â›Â˘É” ž‰
Ĺœ žˆ• ’‹Œ˜ ˆ–Œ›ˆ
Ĺœ •ˆŠ” ÂŒÂ›Â›Â˘É” ÂŒÂ˘Â‰Â˜ÂˆÂ›Â‹
Ĺœ ›˜ž™ Â•ÂˆÂ˘ ĆŻ ĸ ›ˆ—œ•ˆÂ?ÂŒ
Ĺœ É’ ’‹Œ˜ ˆ—‹ Š›ŒŒ— ‘ˆ›Œ ALSO AVAILABLE IN WHITE
VALID FOR NEW CONTRACTS ONLY
Ĺœ ˜ž—‹ ĆŻ ‘˜Â? ALSO AVAILABLE IN BLACK
SMART S
per second billing
R202
R199
Minutes
75 Anytime
Data
75MB
SMS’s
150
ONCE-OFF SIM & CONNECTION
@vodacom4u
facebook.com/vodacom4u
Çž ÂˆÂ˘ Äś Ç? ž—Œ ǙǗǘǚ Â?ˆ—‹ˆ›‹ Â?Œ›–œ ĆŻ Š˜—‹’Â?’˜—œ ÂˆÂ™Â™Â•Â˘ ÄŚ Œˆ•œ œž‰“ŒŠÂ? Â?˜ œ’Â?—’—Â? ˆ ǙǛ –˜—Â?‘ ˜‹ˆŠ˜– Š˜—Â?›ˆŠÂ?ÄŚ ’—Š•žœ’Â&#x;ÂŒÄŚ ‘’•Œ ÂœÂ?˜Š”œ •ˆœÂ?ÄŚ ĆŻ ÄŚ •• ‹Œˆ•œ ˆ›Œ œž‰“ŒŠÂ? Â?˜ œ’Â?—’—Â? ˆ Ç™Ç›ÄśÂ–Â˜Â—Â?‘ ˜‹ˆŠ˜– ˜—Â?›ˆŠÂ? ’—Š•žœ’Â&#x;ÂŒÄŚ ˜› –˜›Œ ‹ŒÂ?ˆ’•œ ˆœ” Â’Â—ÄśÂœÂ?˜›Œ ˜› Â&#x;’œ’Â?    ČÂ&#x;Â˜Â‹ÂˆÂŠÂ˜Â–ÄŚÂŠÂ˜ÄŚÂŁÂˆ ÄŚ