Pressure is mounting on the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) to open the long-delayed Johannesburg International Transport Interchange (JITI) taxi rank in the CBD, with the taxi industry warning that further delays could trigger a province-wide shutdown. The warning comes after SANTACO and Ward 60 residents renewed calls for the immediate opening of the facility, which has remained unused despite being completed several years ago.
The JITI taxi rank, located on Bree Street near Park Station, was designed to modernise public transport operations in the Joburg CBD and provide safer, more efficient facilities for taxi operators and commuters.
However, years after its completion, the facility remains largely inactive, while commuters continue using congested taxi ranks and informal loading areas across the city centre. Santaco spokesperson Sabata Mbobo said the taxi industry had reached a point where it could no longer accept further delays.
Mbobo warned that if the City failed to honour its commitment to open the facility by 1 August, the industry would consider escalating its action. “The taxi industry has been patient for too long. We need a clear commitment and action, not more promises,” said Mbobo. Ward 60 councillor Sihle Nguse, whose ward includes parts of Braamfontein, Park Station and Bree Street where the taxi rank is located, backed residents and SANTACO’s demands. Nguse said the city could no longer afford years of broken promises while a completed public facility remained unused.
Residents have also questioned why millions of rands were spent on infrastructure that has not benefited commuters and transport operators. The facility, completed in 2021 at a cost of more than R500 million, has become a symbol of delays in delivering public infrastructure, with concerns raised about its deteriorating condition while it remains unused.
The taxi industry argues that opening JITI would help improve traffic management, provide better facilities for commuters and bring more order to transport operations in Johannesburg’s inner city.
The City of Johannesburg has previously cited operational and technical challenges as reasons for delays, but pressure is increasing from transport stakeholders who want a firm opening date.
With the 1 August deadline approaching, all eyes are now on the City to resolve the outstanding issues and prevent a possible disruption to public transport across Gauteng.
