Lentegeur station progresses ahead of July restart

A site visit was conducted by Mitchell’s Plain United Residents Forum' (MURA) members at Lentegeur railway station following a meeting with the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) in Athlone.

Michael Jacobs, chairperson of MURA, said PRASA had committed to restoring train services by Tuesday July 1 ("Central line to be up and running by the end of June, says Prasa" Plainsman April 17).

He acknowledged visible progress at the site on Thursday May 15, noting the installation of overhead electric poles. Mr Jacobs mentioned the potential for weather-related delays due to the onset of winter but said they would engage PRASA and relevant stakeholders to address any disruptions quickly.

Mr Jacobs said the goal extends beyond train operations to ensuring safety and security for commuters. He stressed the importance of visible security personnel and police presence.

Once the trains are running, he called for the reestablishment of partnerships between PRASA, SAPS, the community police forum, community ambassadors, and sub-councils.

Mr Jacobs said the community must take responsibility for protecting the infrastructure against vandalism and crime.

Daniel Davids, chairperson of the Colorado Park and Rondevlei sub-forum, said while some progress is visible, several maintenance tasks remain unfinished, particularly roof repairs.

He said Mitchell’s Plain station lags behind Kapteinsklip and Lentegeur in terms of development.

However, Mr Davids confirmed security personnel are present on the platforms and along the railway lines, deterring theft. He said their patrols start early each morning.

At the time of publication, PRASA and the Development Action Group had not provided comment.