Concern over railway line being so close to homes

POLOKWANE – Parents living in Lemur Street in the RDP section of Westenburg fear for their children’s safety with the railway track so close to their homes.

Ragel Speak, who lives a short distance from the railway track, said it was very dangerous and an accident could happen at any time. “Parents are not always around to keep their children away from the railway track, and I fear that one day a child will be killed by a train. In the past, there were people killed and I don’t want to see that happen again, so I plead with the authorities responsible to please erect a fence.”

Lucille Buys is also a parent who lives a few houses away from the railway track. According to her, they have reported the matter to the municipality and also suggested that a fence be erected next to the railway, but nothing came of the complaints or suggestion.

“A fence will make a big difference; not just for the safety of our children, but also to prevent the youngsters who smoke dagga or sniff glue from using the place for these activities,” Buys said.

But not all Westenburg residents are in favour of a fence being erected next to the railway.

A resident who wished to stay anonymous said she did not want a fence erected, because this would mean pedestrians could no longer use the path as a shortcut from Westenburg to Rainbow Park or Nirvana.

“I understand the parents’ concerns and I also know that it’s a safety hazard because there are houses just next to the railway track, but if they put up a fence, then some of us who walk across the railway to get to work and back, because its a shortcut, will have to take a longer route or pay for transport,” the resident said.

Tidimalo Chuene, a municipal spokesperson, said the municipality was aware of the situation. “The council is currently engaging various relevant stakeholders on the erection of a fence or any other appropriate form of barricade to prevent any possible accidents,” Chuene said.