Hope insight for trashy railway property

The uncontrolled dumping at the Dundee railway station and adjacent property may soon be an irritation of the past.
Following complaints from residents, Councillor Anthon Raubenheimer and Dundee Tourism, the Courier contacted Transnet’s head office in Johannesburg who dispatched two senior officials, Steve Thompson of Pietermaritzburg and Vaughn Westwood of Ladysmith to do an on-site inspection.
The officials told Councillor Raubenheimer and the Courier that fencing off the property is not an option as the first fencing had already been stolen. “Various access points make it an impossibility,” said Mr Thompson, who added that Transnet was just as ‘concerned as Dundee residents over the state of the property’.
While on-site, a vagrant was seen going through refuse bags, which had been apparently taken from nearby businesses and homes.
He ruffles through the bags, takes what he wishes and then leaves the rest to litter the area. The man appears to be mentally disabled and Mr Raubenheimer suggested that Social Services and/or the SAPS are contacted to take the man to a place of safety – this would probably cut the littering problem by 80%.

Toilet
The railway bridge is also used as a toilet by passers-by and others who use the area as a short cut.
Mr Raubenheimer explained that previously the municipality had been prevented from cleaning the area as it was Transnet property and there were also safety issues. However, the municipality and Transnet are to work closely to ensure the area is spruced up.
Mr Westwood also said a contractor would be called in to kill the weeds sprouting up and clear the overgrown vegetation that often leads to fierce veld fires in winter.