Mitchell’s Plain subcontractors can still apply to participate in the rehabilitation of the central train line, says the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa).

Prasa senior manager Kagiso Moleme and his team met with representatives from the Mitchell’s Plain United Residents’ Association (Mura), the Cape Crisis Committee and the Development Action Group last Friday to discuss the rebuild programme and how Mitchell’s Plain can benefit from it.

Mr Moleme said one the main contractors, Isipani Construction, was at Lentegeur train station, and another, Maya Construction, was at Mitchell's Plain and Kapteinsklip train stations, and all three stations should be running by July.

The central line's rehabilitation has been marred by the more than 5 000 people occupying the tracks between Langa and Philippi stations (“Commuters need rail services back on track,” Plainsman, February 16, 2022).

The first part of the meeting dealt with Prasa and the Housing Development Agency having to apply to rezone a site in Philippi known as the Philippi Wedge so that it can be used to temporarily relocate people occupying the tracks.

Ward 43 councillor Elton Jansen said the Philippi Wedge was not suitable as a temporary relocation site, but the Municipal Planning Tribunal would have the final say on the application, possibly by June.

The second part of the meeting dealt with how Mitchell’s Plain could benefit when the railway was operational.

When community activist Gael Reagon asked about opportunities for Mitchell’s Plain subcontractors, Mr Moleme said they had not yet been appointed, but Prasa project managers and community liaison officers would meet with local businesses, including subcontractors, to discuss opportunities for them.

Neil Engelbrecht, Prasa's real estate and asset manager for the Western Cape region, said their first priority was to ensure passengers could travel on trains that were safe and reliable, and their second priority was to exploit all assets to generate revenue for the railway.

Mr Engelbrecht said some of Prasa’s land could be made available for small businesses, but first the train line had to work.

Lentegeur train station community liaison officer Cornelius Basson asked whether plans could include a kiosk and a business junction for traders.

“At Lentegeur station, we have a bustling market that can merge with companies and can help discourage vandalism and people from living in the concrete areas. We need to encourage local economic empowerment.”

Mr Engelbrecht said feasibility studies would have to be done, but interested parties could make the necessary enquiries.

Describing the meeting as informative and fruitful, Mura deputy chairman Michael Jacobs told the Plainsman afterwards that the one track servicing the Mitchell's Plain line until Kapteinsklip station should be working by the end of July with both tracks operational by the end of September.

“A commitment was made by Prasa to convene with the Mitchell's Plain stakeholders after two months to report on progress made," he said, adding that Prasa would meet with contractors, community liaison officers and others to discuss various job opportunities.

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