Pretoria West worries over abandoned Transnet railways in Van Der Hoff Road
"They run to the train tracks underneath the bridge where it becomes hard to find them."
Locals are worried that abandoned Transnet railway tracks in Van Der Hoff Road have become a safe harbour for criminals and homeless people, according to the local CPF.
The Pretoria West CPF said they had seen an increase in crime because of homeless people squatting at the railway tracks.
Hercules CPF spokesperson Jan Prinsloo said the tracks were overgrown with trees, making it easy for criminals to run and hide.
“They run to the train tracks underneath a nearby bridge and it becomes hard to find them. You won’t find them after they run in there,” Prinsloo said.
“The train rails have not been running for about 15 years or longer now. We want Transnet to do something about this and we are willing to work with them to combat crime.”
Prinsloo appealed to the community to join the CPF and help fight crime in the area.
“Crime is escalating in the area for a number of reasons. Join us so we can become a strong force against criminal activities.”
Police spokesperson Bonginkosi Msimango said they have tried removing the people staying in the area, however, “they keep coming back”.
“We are aware of them and we are monitoring them through our crime prevention operations.”
Msimango said they also do random searches for drugs and other illegal activities in the area.
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Transnet spokesperson Jane Moshoeshoe also said they were investigating the situation.
Moshoeshoe said they would be dispatching a team to the area to assess the situation on Wednesday.
“It seems like it is a branch line that has not been used in 20 years and it does belong to Transnet.”
However, those staying in the area said lack of jobs was what drove them to be homeless.
A squatter, who requested to remain anonymous and stays at the railway line, said he came to the area to look for work but with no jobs available, he ended up without a place to stay.
“I didn’t find work then I started doing small jobs; sometimes, I get a job, but sometimes I don’t. I do recycling sometimes, but it is not enough for me to get a place of my own. Sleeping here then becomes the only available option I have.
“It’s not easy because we do not choose to end up here. It is much better in the afternoon because we can look for work but when darkness comes, the reality settles in that I do not have a place to stay. Sometimes when it rains, we have to find alternative places. Life was hard when I came here, but now I’m getting used to it.”
The man said some of the permanent residents in the area “understood” their situation, while others made life difficult for them.
“Some of them bring us food, some of them even brings us clothes.
“I am not saying it should be given to me, but I wish I could just get a job and then pay for it myself.”
Another squatter, who also would not be named, said he understood that residents were complaining as some of the squatters “tend to misbehave at times”.
He said it was unfortunate that some of them must suffer because of a small troublesome group.
“The few people who commit these crimes overshadow the ones who actually do not have a place to stay and are simply looking for a place to sleep after working hard during the day.”
*Please note this article has been amended
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