The restoration of the Bonteheuwel and Netreg train stations has been brought to an abrupt halt after gangsters allegedly threatened workers demanding protection money.
The restoration, which has created 100 temporary jobs for Bonteheuwel residents according to the community’s ward councillor Angus MacKenzie, was supposed to take six months.
Mr MacKenzie released a video saying that work was stopped and that he had met with the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) and police on Tuesday August 30, about the incident.
Mr MacKenzie shared another video with the Athlone News in which masked gunmen fire shots into the air at Netreg station and issue threats. The video has been circulating on social media and its original source is unknown.
A decision had been taken to halt operations for the safety of workers and the surrounding communities, Mr MacKenzie said, adding that work would continue once a security plan had been approved. He said he was expecting that to happen in the next 48 hours.
“We will not be held ransom,” he said.
Sergeant Samantha Adonis, of Bishop Lavis police, confirmed the meeting took place but she could not give details on the outcome.
Metrorail’s central line, which was a transport lifeline for thousands of people, was closed in 2019 because of theft and vandalism. The situation was exacerbated by illegal occupations on the rail network in Langa. In July, part of the central line was reopened. It runs from Cape Town to Langa through Pinelands. The northern line runs from Langa to Bellville through Sarepta.
Although no trains run from Bonteheuwel to Cape Town yet, the station is operating as part of the northern line, according to Metrorail spokeswoman Zino Mihi.
The damage to the Bonteheuwel and Netreg rail network was extensive. According to Mr McKenzie, cables, pylons, railway tracks, bricks, and copper piping, among others, were stolen.
The rebuilding of the two stations meant “so much to the people of Bonteheuwel”, he said.
“We must, unfortunately, accept that the rail network found itself in this position because of elements in the community’s consistent vandalism of the network and the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa’s neglect of the security,” he said.
“At the moment, people are spending two thirds of their disposable income on more expensive public transport. When the central line is fully up and running, people will be able to access so many more opportunities. The greatest thing out of this project is that every person employed on the project is from Bonteheuwel. They are now getting valuable job experience.”
Among them is the project’s community liaison officer, Gaynor Adams, 47, a single parent of five children with two grandchildren, who lives with her 72-year-old mother. Three of her children are still at school. She has been unemployed for almost three years.
“This is a great opportunity God gave me,” she said. “I have faced many challenges but have always managed to overcome them. Being part of this project is helping me not only through gaining experience but also gaining knowledge. I am working with 23 men, and I am the only woman on site. This can be challenging at times, but it is all part of my growth.”
Andre Karoles, 39, is working as a painter at Bonteheuwel station. The single parent of two said he was grateful for the job.
Bradley Jones, 43, is on a three-month contract as a safety officer at Bonteheuwel station. He was retrenched during the 2020 lockdown.
“It’s been difficult for me as the breadwinner in my family,” he said. “Since lockdown, work was very scarce. It was difficult finding a job. Luckily for me, I’ve got some health and safety experience, and this vacancy just came at the right time. It helps a lot.”
Mr McKenzie has appealed to the community to report those who vandalise infrastructure to the authorities.
“As a community, we need to take care of what benefits us to ensure that it continues to be a benefit to the entire community,” he said.