Railway line dwellers raise concerns on relocation

TENSIONS are building between Eerste River and Langa residents over the relocation of people who have been living on the railway line.

Prasa was granted a court order to evict residents from the Siyahlala informal settlement after they built shacks on the railway tracks in Langa. The order was granted on August 3 at the Western Cape High Court and the residents are expected to be moved to another piece of land on a farm in Stellenbosch Road, Eerste River.

In a letter to the City’s councillors, Eerste River community activist Pamella Sojini said residents were concerned about the infrastructure and safety.

“It is with great concern and dismay to learn that the Langa dwellers are being relocated to Eerste Rivier. The infrastructure is failing, the roads are in a poor state and there are potholes on almost all the roads. Forest Drive is a perfect example of a poorly maintained road that is constantly being dug up because of the failing sewerage system.

“With the arrival of social housing in all vacant land, there has been filth and no intention to address the problem. Prasa wishes to burden the area that is already coping with over 40 000 residents. Where are schools going to come from?” she said.

“We have a dysfunctional police station. Just a stone’s throw away a settlement called Covid-19 mushroomed in the space of days. There are bodies being found in the river (as a result) of mob justice. What about the safety of the youth?” Sojini said.

Siyahlala Informal settlement community leader Mlondolozi Magqabi said Prasa cannot be dictated to by residents on their decisions.

“If Prasa decides to (relocate us), then we are happy with that, as long as we have a place to stay. The land does not belong to them as the residents; either the land belongs to the City or is privately owned, and that has nothing to do with them. They must make peace with that,” said Magqabi.

Prasa spokesperson Nana Zenani said: “The importance and sensitivity of the issues is of utmost importance to Prasa. To this end, the discussions will take a direct approach through all key stakeholders involved.”