Informal settlement at Centurion train station causes headache
Residents fear the informal settlement has led to an increase in crime.
Centurion residents are frustrated and concerned about the continued growth of an informal settlement at the Centurion train station in Lyttelton Manor.
The settlement covers a large section of the track that runs parallel to Fountains Avenue.
Besides being an eyesore, residents feel the informal settlement is bringing with it a whole host of problems.
“For the past two years this problem has been getting worse and worse by the day,” said a resident who wishes to remain anonymous.
“It borders an old-aged home and we feel very unsafe and exposed, especially at night.
“It produces a lot of smoke every day and night, and it also creates a bunch of flies everywhere.”
Councillor David Farquharson said the problem has persisted a long time and the Tshwane metro is looking for solutions.
Resident Celia van Zyl said the informal settlement has led to an uptick in crime in the area.
“It’s come to a point that many residents are asking for the boom gate to make their neighbourhood more secure,” said Van Zyl.
Many fear the settlement has become a den for drug dealing and other illegal activities.
Residents also feel that the settlement is leading to the decay and destruction of the local infrastructure.
“There are many facilities surrounding the settlement and they all look terrible now, they are vandalised and a lot of dumping is being done there.
“There is a lot of littering and dumping and they also removed a piece of the palisade fence to gain access to the land.”
Van Zyl is also concerned that the settlement is reducing property values in the area.
The palisade fence on Botha Avenue and DF Malan Road has been broken down for easy access into the settlement.
There is also frequent theft and vandalism of streetlights.
“The concrete fence along the railway line has been broken in several places, for access into the settlement.
“Also, the iron ‘drippers’ supporting the fence between DF Malan and Botha Avenue have all been stolen,” said Van Zyl.
Farquharson said the problem is a very complicated and the metro is actively deliberating to come up with a solution.
“We are currently in the process of coming up with solutions to remove them from the area.
“The situation is made very difficult by the fact that parts of land belong to both Sanral and Transnet.
“For a while they were blocking parts of the tracks and the trains couldn’t move but now thankfully they’ve moved, but it’s still a major problem,” he said.
Illegal recycling is also taking place there and is growing by the day.
Ward 69 councillor Cindy Bilson told Rekord that illegal recycling remains a systemic issue that needs to be fixed in Centurion due to a lack of proper recycling facilities.
“There are only four recycling spots in the whole of Centurion, which is not enough for a city of this size.
“More needs to be done to avoid these types of situations from occurring,” she said.
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