A PROTECTIVE wall is being constructed between the Wellington and Mbekweni railway stations in the Drakenstein municipality in Western Cape.
The R8million barrier's construction - by Transnet - was officially launched on Tuesday.
The project follows several deaths from accidents at dangerous crossings on the railway lines. One of the incidents claimed two toddlers' lives four months ago.
Transnet group chief executive officer Brian Molefe was at the OR informal settlement for the sod-turning ceremony, marking the start of building the wall that will help to reduce pedestrian accidents on the railway line.
"The wall will be on both sides of Mbekweni train station which we hope, if all goes smoothly, will be finished at the end of March," said Molefe.
"The first kilometre of the three-metre-high wall, with 600mm underground to ensure that burrowing under is impossible, will be completed by mid-November."
Molefe visited families of the victims to comfort them.
Nokuzola Mfafela, the mother of the late Owam, spoke to Sowetan near the site where her son was killed.
"I am happy that at least the wall is about to be built here," she said.
"I do not want to see another child being hit by a train again. I hope that the wall will not be destroyed by the residents.
"A better solution to our problem is to be moved from here to a safer place."
Transnet is in talks with the municipality and the provincial government in an effort to assist the municipality to find other land for the more than 1000 households who live in the area.
Alternative accommodation for the residents has been a challenge that is a stumbling block for Transnet to fulfil its promise to build the boundary wall.
The Drakenstein municipality is exploring various options to move the residents away from the rail reserve to prevent accidents.
Executive deputy mayor of Drakenstein, councillor Conrad Poole, said: "We are in the process of constructing formal houses in the Drommedaris project which will start at the end of the month.
"As a matter of urgency we will develop a piece of land to relocate those who qualify for housing at the formal Drommedaris project to this piece of land on a temporary basis.
"This relocation will allow Transnet to build their wall and those who do not qualify for the Drommedaris project will remain on the site outside the buffer zone created by the wall."
Transnet to build R8m wall to end rail deaths
A PROTECTIVE wall is being constructed between the Wellington and Mbekweni railway stations in the Drakenstein municipality in Western Cape.
The R8million barrier's construction - by Transnet - was officially launched on Tuesday.
The project follows several deaths from accidents at dangerous crossings on the railway lines. One of the incidents claimed two toddlers' lives four months ago.
Transnet group chief executive officer Brian Molefe was at the OR informal settlement for the sod-turning ceremony, marking the start of building the wall that will help to reduce pedestrian accidents on the railway line.
"The wall will be on both sides of Mbekweni train station which we hope, if all goes smoothly, will be finished at the end of March," said Molefe.
"The first kilometre of the three-metre-high wall, with 600mm underground to ensure that burrowing under is impossible, will be completed by mid-November."
Molefe visited families of the victims to comfort them.
Nokuzola Mfafela, the mother of the late Owam, spoke to Sowetan near the site where her son was killed.
"I am happy that at least the wall is about to be built here," she said.
"I do not want to see another child being hit by a train again. I hope that the wall will not be destroyed by the residents.
"A better solution to our problem is to be moved from here to a safer place."
Transnet is in talks with the municipality and the provincial government in an effort to assist the municipality to find other land for the more than 1000 households who live in the area.
Alternative accommodation for the residents has been a challenge that is a stumbling block for Transnet to fulfil its promise to build the boundary wall.
The Drakenstein municipality is exploring various options to move the residents away from the rail reserve to prevent accidents.
Executive deputy mayor of Drakenstein, councillor Conrad Poole, said: "We are in the process of constructing formal houses in the Drommedaris project which will start at the end of the month.
"As a matter of urgency we will develop a piece of land to relocate those who qualify for housing at the formal Drommedaris project to this piece of land on a temporary basis.
"This relocation will allow Transnet to build their wall and those who do not qualify for the Drommedaris project will remain on the site outside the buffer zone created by the wall."
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