Communities protest over alleged exclusion from PR2P project

RESIDENTS living near the Heideveld, Netreg and Gugulethu train stations protested yesterday over allegations of nepotism and the failure of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) to meet with them in relation to the People’s Responsibility to Protect (PR2P) project.

Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula launched the PR2P project in March, aimed at creating partnerships with local communities living near railway lines. It saw the appointment of thousands of community volunteers, who were deployed at 46 rail corridors nationwide to assist Prasa security personnel in protecting rail infrastructure.

Heideveld station committee chairperson Isaac de Jongh said the community was being excluded.

“When the community wanted to know who sent the names of the volunteers to work here – because we do not know the people – we got no answers. There are so many unemployed people living here who can benefit from a stipend. The community lives here, the community are the consumers and economic drivers of the train systems … it is not right to sideline us,” he said.

Residents have since decided to take it upon themselves to start volunteering.

“We decided we are going to assist the security personnel to stop further vandalism and write reports on what is happening and what more needs to be done. We have a roster, so people are working in shifts. We have been trying for a very long time to get Prasa here – but they are ignoring us. People want answers.

“They also want to know what the next step in the project will be. Prasa said they wanted community involvement – now the community want to be involved but Prasa are not doing their part,” De Jongh added.

Prasa had not responded to requests for comment by deadline.