People residing along the railway line in Langa and Philippi stated that as long as the government doesn\u2019t provide them with alternative land to stay the trains won\u2019t operate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
They accused the government officials of working at a snail\u2019s pace to relocate them. This emerged during the stakeholder\u2019s meeting held at Ruth First Community Hall on Monday 11 September. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The meeting was organised by the Department of Transport in partnership with Human Settlements and Public Works and Infrastructure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before the meeting, ministers Sindisiwe Chikunga and Sihle Zikalala visited the Siyahlala informal settlement in Langa and the Eyadini informal settlement in Philippi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mxoleleni Ngutyana, a community leader at Siyahlala, stated that they did not trust the government officials because they made empty promises. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe can\u2019t sleep in our shacks. The community is harassing us. They are accusing us of misleading them. In their eyes, we are the ones who are lying to them,\u201d said Ngutyana. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Commenting on their living conditions, Ngutyana said there was nothing for the community. This has forced residents to resort to illegal means, including illegal electricity connections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Commenting on the plans to resolve the impasse, Chikunga said through Operation Bhekela several interventions were in place to ensure an amicable solution. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The operation is an initiative established by the Passenger Railway Agency South Africa (Prasa) to relocate people residing along the railway lines. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere is Phase One, which we were running by providing services between the lines corridors. Phase Two is to identify land within Prasa land which will remove the residents away from railway lines so that we are able to do the work. I\u2019ve appointed the service providers who must do the work on the central line. So if we relocate people on a temporary or permanent basis will therefore do the rehabilitation and provide services,\u201d said Chikunga. She hinted at the devolution of railway transport in the province but added that would be a protracted process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe need to come up with a strategy to go to the cabinet for approval. There is still a long way to go on that one,\u201d she explained. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
She stated that she was happy to meet all the stakeholders involved in the matter, adding that they all understood the government\u2019s position on the matter. \u201cThey are hungry for information,\u201d said Chikunga. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
She said the central line would probably be operational by March next year. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
People residing along the railway line in Langa and Philippi stated that as long as the government doesn\u2019t provide them with alternative land to stay the trains won\u2019t 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