Learners face dangerous Greenwood Park subway on their trip to school

THE trip to school is anything but easy for learners attending Parkhill Secondary School in Greenwood Park.

They arrive in public transport on Chris Hani Road (North Coast Road) before walking through a littered subway, picking their way over bricks that have been laid out as stepping stones in pools of sewer water. Overgrown bush linning the walkway attracts snakes and rats to the area.

School principal, Misbahnar Smerdon is concerned that the dingy subway is a breeding ground for crime after several learners were robbed on their way to school.

“The subway was built in order to save the learners from the danger of crossing the train tracks, but it’s become a terrible hazard. I walk through every morning to North Coast Road to see that the students are safe.”

“There are a few very concerned parents. When I contacted the railway, they said the subway is under the railway so I am told it is not their jurisdiction. Greenwood Park SAPS said they can’t have someone here everyday. An occasional patrol isn’t going to help us. We need a designated person to take control and ensure the safety of our learners,” she added.

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Concerned parent, Wallace Meth also walks through the subway in the mornings to make sure learners are safe.

“There are elements of crime in this area that are prohibiting the learners from getting to school. As it is they have a lot to deal with (because of) the Covid-19 pandemic and all the temptations of drugs, alcohol and substance abuse,” he said.

“Our children are easily tempted and they are getting to school late, they are getting blocked in the subway by other learners. They are smoking cigarettes in the subway. Also the bush and grass is long and there are snakes and other elements that can harm the children. If you have a clean environment and it’s neat and tidy, they can get to school quicker. As it is, they can hardly even walk through the mud and water in the subway and then there is all the grass growing through the walkway where you can hardly walk. That’s not right,” he added.

Wallace said he has reported the problem to the Parks and Recreation Department to ask that the grass be cut.

Also read: Durban North learners get a ‘feel’ for school after lockdown

“The water department is also going to need to get involved because there is sewer water running there which is not healthy for our children,” he said.

“I have looked at a couple of solutions, number one, if the council can come and clean up and clear the walkway for the learners, we would be able to observe and see that they are safe. Number two would be if council could construct a walkway over the train station, which would be safer for learners and in that way, the public and concerned parents will be able to monitor their safety,” he added. 

The eThekwini Municipality referred the Northglen News to the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) for a comment. Prasa did not send their comment at the time this article went to print.

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