Africa-Press – South-Africa. More delays have marred the re-opening of Cape Town’s problematic Central Line.
The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) had said the railway line would re-open in December, but Western Cape MEC for Mobility Ricardo Mackenzie was doubtful.
Shack dwellers have built their homes on the line and plans to relocate the residents have been moving at a snail’s pace.
The Central Line between Nyanga and Cape Town has been closed for about three years.
The line is only operational between Nyanga and Maitland as negotiations continue.
Mackenzie said he did not believe the Central Line would be re-opened by December as envisioned.
He said:
Mackenzie said his main concern was safety.
“We need to [make] trains safer while travelling on the central line, and we have started a process to work with Prasa,” he said.
Prasa had set aside R1.2 billion to recover the Central Line.
Critical infrastructure was dug out, stripped and carried off, leaving train services unable to function during a revolving door of leadership changes at Prasa and allegations of corruption and state capture.
However, Prasa remained adamant that the deadline would be met.
Prasa spokesperson Andiswa Makanda told News24 that the recovery of the Central Line was currently being done in phases.
“Services are running on the Central Line between Cape Town and Nyanga, bringing phase one of the project to completion. Work will start soon for phase two – Nyanga to Chris Hani and Kapteinsklip,” Makanda said.
The City of Cape Town has been working closely with the Housing Development Agency (HDA) to relocate residents occupying the railway line.
Empty cable casings are seen along a Cape Town railway line. Kaylynne Bantom/People’s Post The City referred queries to the HDA, although it previously said it had been waiting on the agency for direction regarding the relocation process of the families.
HDA spokesperson Katlego Moselakgomo told News24 the occupants of the Central Line in Langa, Philippi and Khayelitsha, always indicated their willingness to be relocated to allow for the reopening.
He said 8.7 hectares of land was acquired by the HDA for the relocation of Phase 1 Langa in the Philippi Wedge Area.
“There is an ongoing process for the identification and acquisition of additional land required for the relocation programme, including engagement with the Department of Public Works for the release of strategically located land parcels in order to accommodate Phase 2 relocations,” he said.
Moselakgomo added the successful reopening of the Central Line required an intergovernmental approach.
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