The project started a few years ago and suddenly stopped, allegedly due to the outstanding court order by the local private developers who are against this development after the court ruled against them on May 2.
Metro’s spokesman, Themba Radebe confirmed in June that the installation of water and sewer services was completed in December last year.
The area has become a target for thieves as they are not only stealing the door and window frames, allegedly selling these to the nearby scrap yards, but are also demolishing the toilet structures for unknown purposes .
According to Michael Malatjie, ward 72 committee member, on his way to Payneville he was shocked to see two young men busy taking out the door and window frames from the Payneville toilets at around midday.
He says when he confronted them, their response was that, they were stealing in order to be able to provide for their families.
“While I was still talking to the two suspects, another man pitched up with a pile of corrugated iron that he had stolen from the toilets and ran away towards Payneville leaving the corrugated iron behind,” said a surprised Malatjie.
DA ward councillor, Ramesh Sheodin said the vandalism is destroying the good thing that the metro is trying to provide to the disadvantaged residents.
He said he wishes that the court case will be finalised soon before there is nothing left to relocate people to.
Mzwandile Sifuba, a resident at Payneville said he believes that the metro needs to hire security to fight against vandalism in the area.
“There are people who are really looking forward to being moved to a developed area and this vandalism act is putting the metro a step backwards,” said Sifuba.
