The multimillion-rand taxi rank has never been used since its completion in 2011 by commuters and taxi operators, following concerns about structural issues. Mayor Mxolisi Siyonzana says the taxi operators cannot use the taxi rank because both the exit and entrance present challenges for taxi operators. He says they began a process with the Acting City Manager (ACM) with the hope of having discussions with the owners of two buildings surrounding the taxi rank, to see if they could utilise the space to further construct the rank. In June this year, Siyonzana said at least R50 million will be needed to further construct the controversial taxi rank.  

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“We are working on it, we want that taxi rank to operate. Processes had already started and we are going to make sure that the taxi rank is operating,” Siyonzana adds.

In 2019, the metro signed a 30-year lease agreement for the R400 million Bloemfontein taxi rank with the Greater Bloemfontein Taxi Association through its entity, the Free State Taxi Association. However, R50 million was needed to further construct the controversial taxi rank.

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The metro has been under scrutiny for incomplete projects which cost the metro millions of rands over the years. The metro's Integrated Public Transport Network (IPTN) has been highlighted as the perfect example. In June 2022, minister Mbalula revealed that the forensic investigation into the Mangaung Metro Municipality's controversial multimillion-rand IPTN would start immediately.

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"They will do the work without fear or favour. They will start with the buses and also go to the infrastructure. They will bring the report and the report will be processed. Where there are corruption allegations, it will be forwarded to the Hawks, Investigative Directorate (ID) and Special Investigation Unit (SIU) to help with this investigation." he adds. 

OFM News previously reported that the request for the forensic report follows stringent allegations of massive fraud and corruption in the project, with further allegations that ten buses were procured through a lease contract and facilitation process that involved a middleman who scored a facilitation fee of about R20 million. It’s alleged that the metro has missed at least six deadlines in phase 1 to complete the IPTN project, after numerous warnings by the Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Transport. The cost of the project have allegedly been at least R2 billion since its commencement in 2016, with feasibility studies that are said to have started in 2011, including accruals that ran into millions of rand at the ailing metro.

OFM News