By Lodu William Odiya
Public transport drivers operating at Jebel Market have called on the government to urgently intervene in what they described as the gradual allocation of public space used as a bus park to private individuals.
In an interview with No. 1 Citizen Daily English Newspaper on Thursday, Abraham Chol, who is a driver and chairperson of Jebel Park, said the public transport parking area at Jebel Market is facing a serious crisis after parts of the land were allegedly distributed to individuals, threatening the future of the bus station and leaving drivers with limited space to park their vehicles.
According to Chol, some individuals claiming ownership of plots in the area possess documents allegedly obtained from the Ministry of Housing and the Survey Department.
He said the individuals sometimes arrive at the site accompanied by security personnel and allegedly destroy shades constructed by drivers for shelter at the parking area.
“The public space where we park our vehicles is being distributed to some individuals. The worst thing is that those with documents from the Ministry of Housing and Survey Department come with security personnel and destroy the shades we have made,” Chol stated.
The drivers further alleged that some of the plots are being sold to other individuals, including foreigners, while efforts are being made to prevent the area from continuing to operate as a public transport station.
They appealed to the government to investigate the matter and establish how public land designated or used for public transport parking is being allocated to private individuals.
“We are crying to the government to intervene and see exactly where the problem is, especially from the Ministry of Housing. We always raise our complaints, but no one seems to care,” Chol said.
The drivers called on relevant authorities to question engineers and surveyors involved in the allocation of land and ensure that public spaces are protected for the benefit of all citizens.
They said Juba is already facing a shortage of designated parking areas for public transport vehicles, forcing drivers in several locations to park along roadsides. Areas such as Customs, Konyo-Konyo, and Gudele, they said, lack adequate vehicle parks.
Parking along busy roads, according to Chol, exposes vehicles and passengers to accidents involving cars and rickshaws while also contributing to traffic congestion.
They noted that the approximately 15-metre space currently allocated for parking is not enough to accommodate the growing number of public transport vehicles.
He urged the government to allocate sufficient land for organised bus parks and invest in a better public transport system, including the introduction of public buses when conditions allow.
Chol further questioned why public spaces should be taken and handed to private individuals while ordinary citizens continue to lack essential facilities.
“If public space is being taken and given to individuals, then what about other citizens?” he asked.
The drivers said urgent government intervention is needed to protect public land, address the Jebel bus park crisis, and ensure that public transport operators have safe and adequate spaces to serve the growing population of Juba.