Plan for Prasa-owned properties in Woodstock

Woodstock residents may expect relief from the social ills stemming from properties owned by the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) as plans to open the land for market development have been revealed.

The success of the project could put an end to the Mascani informal settlement located in Railway Road at the border of the Church Street Bridge in Tide Street and Beach Road.

For many years the area has been home to vagrants and criminals the source of robberies, substance abuse and vandalism in the vicinity.

Prasa spokesperson Zino Mihi said it had offered the property in Woodstock to a public process for market development proposals.

“Parties interested in submitting development proposals were not restricted to any preferred usage of the property.

“Prasa is currently in the process of evaluating the market responses.

“The criteria in the evaluation process include the benefit of the development proposal to us and the surrounding community.

“Once the internal process is finalised, we will make an announcement.”

Prasa started by removing trespassers and deploying mobile security staff to patrol the site.

Shamiel Abbas, a resident and an executive member of the Central Woodstock Neighbourhood Watch, said although the plot was in the industrial area, there was a need for social housing and would welcome considerations of either a commercial or residential development.

“We had issues with that section of Woodstock for too long and any sort of development would make a huge improvement in our community.

“This would permanently ensure removal of the squatters and criminal elements.

“But it is advisable that Prasa puts a security system in the meantime as we are still experiencing recurring incidents despite joint operations between

the law enforcement agencies.”

Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk said: “We patrol this area daily and there are Prasa securities on the rail environment.

“Theft cases have been reported and the premises are raided regularly for substances and we made huge successes there.”

“Prasa further wishes to highlight that there are no informal structures in the area referred to as Mascani.

“It has been noted that vagrants trespass onto the Prasa land in the area and acts of criminality by the vagrants have been reported,” Mihi said.

The City of Cape Town said it was not aware of the development plans.

ONE of the shacks found at the infamous Mascani informal settlement on the railway lines.