A GROUP of Highway organisations have banded together to throw their support behind the community project, Railway Action Group, that will address the growing safety concerns regarding the unkempt railway line.
The Kloof CPF’s chairman, Nikki Mohlmann, described the railway line as an easy entrance and exit for the criminal element into neighbourhoods.
“If the government can’t provide, the community will provide. We all do different things but when we link together we can take back our streets and our railway line, that’s is the reason that we are now all collaborating,” said a determined Mohlmann.
“Every Kloof home is directly or indirectly affected by the security risk posed by the unkempt railway line, not just those in the immediate vicinity,” said Mohlmann.
With no assistance from Transnet, the group of volunteers have put together a sustainable short to long term plan to actively reclaim a safe neighbourhood. The newly formed group started its railway cleanup on Tuesday last week.
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Residents responded to a call for action by sharing their garden assistants’ labour to cut and spray Invasive Alien Plants from the Makaranga bridge towards the Kloof station.
“It will take a few of these sessions to get the entire stretch treated. Completion of this phase using heavy equipment to gouge out of a clear path each side of the railway itself, will set the tone for easier maintenance,” said The Kloof Project’s secretary, Sandra Wickee.
Under the direction of a surveyor, the new dykes along the way will be unaffected. Phase 2 includes the Willingdon Road stretch and Phase 3 the Everton to Makaranga stretch. Offers of shared garden labour for these areas are needed.
The Kloof Project’s secretary, Sandra Wickee, said, “Kloof residents and businesses need to be made aware of the ongoing concerns emanating from the railway reserve running directly through our area. This newly formed group are hopeful that residents, businesses and community organisations will consider joining this initiative and work with us for the long-haul.”
To make an in-kind donation or volunteer your services to aid in the clean up exercises, e-mail nixmohlmann@gmail.com, smashclothing@mweb.co.za or wickee@3i.co.za.
Make a donation:
Kloof Community Policing Forum
Bank: Standard Bank
Branch: Kloof
Account: Cheque
Account number: 051982293
Reference: Railway action group
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