WALVIS BAY – Unregistered seven-seater operators or any illegal operator loading passengers at the informal taxi rank in Nathaniel Maxuilili Street in Kuisebmond will be fined.

Walvis Bay municipal traffic officer Simon Christians, who assisted operators to move to the new loading area in Wakuna, said registered seven seaters will be operating from the Independence Service Station at Wakuna after reaching an agreement with the service station owners as well as the ministry of transport, which allowed them to legally operate in a controlled and save environment.

Their previous loading zone posed many challenges as the environment was unhygienic and unsafe for those making use of their services.

Registered seven seaters also had to compete with illegal operators for clients that saw clients being grabbed and manhandled by illegal operators.

According to Christians, the new loading space will be much better and controlled, while bathroom facilities are also available, unlike at the previous loading zone.

“The operators even have a queuing system in place.  We are indeed happy that they organised themselves in such a manner,” he observed.

He added that all stakeholders were involved to make sure the seven-seater operations transition smoothly.

“They are now legal, and will soon get their permits to operate,” he said.

President of the Seven Seaters’ Association Benedict Ndjitaviu said they are happy, and that the development signals change for seven-seater operators not only in Walvis Bay, but for the entire country.

“Illegal transport will soon be something of the past. We are busy with a project that will positively impact all seven-seater operators in the country.  We are educating them so that the industry can be formalised. However, we will also be clamping down on all illegal activity as an effort to make sure that we provide organised, safe services while operating in a conducive environment,” he noted.

In the meantime, all local residents who will be making use of seven seaters are urged to rather come to the Independence Service Station than using illegal operators. There are currently more than a 100 seven-seaters operating from Walvis Bay.

- edeklerk@nepc.com.na