Local public transportation commuting from town to local communities in Lusikisiki are in appalling conditions. The commuters say they do not feel safe as the taxis are in a bad state and public roads are deteriorating and are not being fixed.
Uncedo taxi association drivers say the damaged roads are the main reason for these damaged and road unworthy cars. These drivers say they had to adapt to the damaged roads and devise strategies that work for both the drivers and the passengers. They say they realised that taxis and buses cannot reach some villages because of the severely damaged roads and so they had to add bakkies in the ranks.
Taxis deliver people to areas with better and less potholed roads while bakkies deliver in areas with severely potholed roads.
“Our taxis arrive at the ranks as roadworthy cars but because of the potholed roads our cars end up being damaged and road unworthy. Our roads are in a very terrible state. We had brand new Siyaya taxis here but the time of those taxis quickly lapsed and they were deemed as road unworthy because of these damaged roads.
We also had brand new 13 seater quantums which are now damaged and look old because of these roads. You will find that our taxis were fine and in a short space of time they are old and damaged by these potholed roads.” Said Ben Nondabula, transport chairman of Lusikisiki Uncedo taxi association.
Commuters that use public transport complain about potholes on the roads and the road unworthy taxis. A commuter that uses public transport said.
“I use public transport in the morning and in the afternoon. The condition of some of the taxis we use is horrible. The roads are dusty and filled with potholes so it’s just not safe. In the morning these taxis take too long and I get to work late. It’s worse in the afternoon when you are tired from work and you travel in a potholed road.” Said Nomsa Mthiba.
Using public transport is the easiest and safest way for commuters to get from one point to the next. However these commuters say they wish the public transport industry of Lusikisiki could improve. They say in future they hope to see other convenient means of transport.
“In Lusikisiki, our transport system is very limited. If you want to travel in the early hours or very late after 7pm you’ll have challenges because our taxis only start operating from 6 am to 6 pm and that’s on busy days. But if it’s not busy you will only start seeing taxis at 8am till 5 pm. If we had options such as buses that operate throughout the day and ubers then things would be easier for everyone.” Said Nosisa Mbekwa a user of public transport.—Photo / Supplied
