SWAKOPMUND – The Swakopmund Town Council has told the Namibia Bus and Taxi Association (NABTA) to get its house in order within 30 days at the Mondesa Taxi Rank.
Or alternatively NABTA could see its contract to run the day-to-day operations of the taxi rank at Mondesa being terminated.
Fed up with the ineffectual manner in which the taxi rank is being run, the town council at its last management meeting, insisted NABTA should find a solution to the problem, otherwise it will literally be a case of “shape up or ship out”.
In the event the contract is cancelled, local taxis and bus owners and operators would be requested to submit an alternative management plan for the running of the Mondesa Taxi Rank.
What seems to have broken the camel’s back was a NABTA representative’s failure to turn up at a crucial meeting scheduled early this year that was to have addressed key problem points.
The meeting was to be held between NABTA and the CEO of Swakopmund Municipality, Eckhart Demasius, but it was cancelled telephonically and at very short notice. Unfortunately, many bus and taxi owners who turned up for the meeting went home very disappointed.
On the agenda were points such as refusal of some operators to contribute to service fees, vandalising and damaging the property of a rival tax association, unlawful commuter loading and several safety and security issues.
According to a progress report, NABTA was expected to perform specific duties to ensure smooth operation at the taxi rank and car wash, after they signed the lease agreement.
The tasks assigned were not adhered to and it was stated in the last council meeting that they did not adhere to the rules and regulations since there is no management structure or security officers to enforce the rules and ensure smooth running of the operations.
Many attempts made by various departments to sort out the issues did not bear any fruit. In fact, the matter has deteriorated to such a level that council has explored other avenues in an attempt to sort out this predicament and the Community Development Department has enquired with different town councils on how they manage taxi ranks.
NABTA was not immediately available for comment.