The Katlehong SAPS station commander, Brigadier Albertina Vesi, hosted various stakeholders such as the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa), Transnet, the Gauteng Department of Community Safety (GDCS), CPFs, the Cooperative Government of Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), ward councillors, and various police units at the Katlehong SAPS hall to discuss how to prevent vandalism and ensure a smooth return of the train service to Katlehong.
With October marked as a Transport Month, the trains’ return will help ease the pressure on those commuters who always bear the brunt of paying an extra fare simply because there are no alternative modes of transport to and from work daily.
The consultations are at an advanced stage, and Prasa has assured residents that it is only a matter of time before the train transport returns to Katlehong.
This return, said Vezi, means the SAPS would need a solid commitment from the surrounding communities to devote themselves to protecting the infrastructure at all times.
Both the Central Katlehong and North Katlehong station commanders were present and appealed to community members to be part of efforts to safeguard the rail line.
They assured their respective communities that the railway line re-launch would boost Katlehong’s economy and help curb the high unemployment level because having a working railway line system would make it easy for everyone to go and search for jobs,” she said.
