Durban taxi industry faces crisis as licensing centres close due to unpaid utility bills

Taxi owners and drivers around Durban have expressed frustration over the closure of motor vehicle licensing and testing centres across the city because their utility services were disconnected.

The closures came after the eThekwini Municipality decided to suspend electricity and water services to government buildings that had unpaid utility bills, and the hardest hit were facilities attached to the transport sector.

Raja Singh, a taxi owner, spoke on behalf of other operators who had been affected by the shutdown of the Roadworthy Test Centre Durban located on Moore Road. Singh attempted to take a roadworthy test and register a vehicle.

“This could not have happened at a worse time; December is one of our busiest months. One cannot spend hours in queues. If the Moore Road city station is closed, we are forced to drive to Pinetown or Verulam, where there are insanely long queues. This is detrimental to our business,” Singh said.

Taxi driver John Chetty expressed concern after he attempted to visit the Moore Road facility to do a license and permit renewal, without success. Chetty said he couldn't afford time away from work because, as a driver, he was required to adhere to daily passenger fare targets to secure his earnings.

“I have a daily target to meet. If I have to drive to Pinetown or Verulam, it would cause me to miss out on my daily earning targets. While the other facilities also operated on Saturdays, Chetty said Saturdays were their busiest days, which makes that an unsuitable alternative for me.”

Ndabezinhle Sibiya, a spokesperson for the Kwazulu-Natal Transport Department, said that the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure were responsible for the utility bills and the situation would be remedied soon.

Sibiya acknowledged the economic impact of the closures, which amounted to massive financial losses.

“The Durban-based motor licensing and testing centres are critical revenue generators, with the department collected R2.5 billion through these centres in the last financial year. There are individuals attempting to buy cars for the festive season, but they are facing barriers in registration and licensing,” Sibiya said.

This quarter alone, the department has reportedly collected R1.2 billion, funds essential for service delivery and further development, according to projections that indicate the closures might impede reaching or exceeding last year’s figures.

MEC for Public Works and Infrastructure, Martin Meyer, has urged the eThekwini Municipality to reconsider its stance on shutting down essential services.

“I have reached out to Mayor Cyril Xaba and await a response regarding a meeting to discuss the terms of payment. We acknowledge the historical debt of R500 million owed to eThekwini, but we urge leniency while we work towards a solution,” Meyer said.

Councillor Mdu Nkosi, chairman of the city’s water and sanitation committee, said the municipality was in a precarious financial situation, and the non-payment for services by government departments impacted service delivery.

“We are routinely criticised for failing to deliver basic services like water, yet our higher government tiers are not fulfilling their financial responsibilities to us,” Nkosi said.

DAILY NEWS