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The Democratic Alliance (da) will start a petition in which the mangaung Metro Municipality (MMM) is calculated in the mangaung -Metro community (MMM) to include the construction of a protection fence along the railway line in station 26, which covers Wilgeof, Gardenia, Hospitalpark and Fichardtpark in its budget. This campaign follows for five years unanswered inquiries and will give the residents a platform to express their frustration through the management of MMM to ignore their concerns.
As early as 2016/17, several discussions were held with Transnet to deliver fences, but without success. Residents who live next to the railway line often experience stolen goods that are carried away over the tracks.
The problems concerned:
- Criminals hide under the ditch and rainwater ditch and often sleep there overnight.
- Thieves and burglars often escape the railway line, which makes it difficult for SAPS and CPF members to grasp them.
- Vehicles can only cross the railway on the Benade Bridge or the showgrounds Bridge and hinder the prevention of crime.
- SAPS patrols on horseback contributed to deter the crime, but it remains a continuing challenge.
- School children who cross the railway were robbed by belongings, especially from mobile phones.
- In Gardenia there are pedestrian bridges and two steel bridges in Wilgehof, but the residents remain vulnerable without fences.
- The crime incidents in the region include robbery, attempted robbery, attempted murder and assault.
We will continue to monitor developments, provide updates and ensure that roads and services are restored as soon as possible.