Taxi firm under fire

A COMMUNITY crime-reporting network has flagged Observatory-based Elite Taxis as a major transgressor of traffic rules and a nuisance to public parking in the suburb through its constant hogging of parking bays and pavements in the Lower Main and Station Road area.
Locals have long complained that the metered taxis illegally clog up the parking bays meant for shoppers, who are forced to park far away in less safe places. But the extent of the lawlessness by Elite became apparent when locals started reporting the transgressions on Turn-It-Around, a volunteer crime-reporting website. For example, during the first week of August, eight cases of illegal parking by Elite taxis were reported, compared to one by a private taxi operator.
James Cowley the chairman of the Observatory Neighbourhood Watch said that they have very little respect for Obs residents, they take up a lot of space parking in the streets and the parking bays, which are very few for those visiting Obs. “Many times residents are unable to pass to get in and out of their driveways, because of Elite Taxis service,” he says.
Most of the illegally parked taxis are reported on Turn-it-Around in the evenings. This is when the taxis tout for business from revellers leaving the clubs and pubs of Lower Main Road.
A City by-law governing the taxi industry states clearly that taxis may only park in designated taxi bays. Because there are no such bays in Observatory, it means that taxis have to wait at their respective bases until they are called by customers in Observatory.
Approached for comment by ObsLife, Sulaiman Essop, Elite’s fleet manager, at first argued that it wasn’t illegal for taxis to park in public spaces, saying that the taxi drivers are shoppers at the businesses in front of which they park. “We have all the right to stand there...90 percent of our drivers shop at Spar,” he said.
Later on, he argued that Elite taxi drivers are in fact independent drivers who simply hire the taxis from Elite. He said the company reprimands those who don't adhere to the traffic laws, but added that some of the complaints lodged against Elite taxis are “ridiculous”.
At another stage, Suleiman denied that any of the Elite taxis park in Lower Main and Station Road.
He said Elite taxis are all registered taxis with permits, and the company has been in existence for 23 years. He complained that Elite was being victimised. “Why aren't they doing the same thing to the other taxi companies?”
Sulaiman said that he asked Charl Brooks, who oversees the Observatory Public Safety patrols, to meet about the issue “so that we can get to a middle ground.”