According to Passenger Rail Agency South Africa (Prasa) spokesperson Nana Zenani, Prasa suspended all Metrorail train services as protesters from nearby informal settlements Delmore and Ulana invaded the station earlier this morning and threatened workers.
As part of the service delivery protests, community members reportedly entered the station in Knights, burned tyres on the railway tracks and vandalised the infrastructure. The police and security officers were deployed to the affected area and they subsequently managed to clear the crowd from the railway line.
“Metrorail Gauteng would like to report a code green, meaning that all train operations and movements at Germiston Knights have been restored. Several trains have safely passed Knights, entering Elandsfontein after the technical teams and Prasa security have declared the area safe,” said Nana Zenani.
According to the Reiger Park SAPS spokesperson, Const Nathi Mokwana, residents of the informal settlements embarked on an illegal march this morning (August 28) to protest against poor service delivery.
“They are demanding government provide them with access to electricity, housing and employment,” said Mokwana.
Germiston residents have now touched a construction company responsible for building toilets in the area.
"This project has been going on for the past three years and we are not seeing any progress," said one resident. @dailysunsa #GermistonProtest pic.twitter.com/gvdqLgY8u2
— Nelson Mahlangu (@NelsonMahlangu1) August 28, 2019
This publication understands that another service delivery-related strike is looming in Driefontein informal settlement, formerly known as kwaGumede. Reports indicate that community leaders have applied for permission to peacefully march from the informal settlement to the municipal offices in the Boksburg CBD.
Also Read: Train derails near Angelo due to rail infrastructure theft
