Local organisations clean and beautify Wolmer train station
This busy station is widely used by the community to travel to work for affordable trips, however it has suffered from neglect and has been left with overgrown vegetation.
Local organisations in Pretoria North on Monday, February 5 began with the first phase of a clean-up and upliftment campaign aimed at creating a safe and welcoming environment for commuters at the Wolmer train station.
Several residents and local organisations saw the need to turn the tide on the decay of infrastructure in their area and bring about change.
The station was an eyesore, with overgrown vegetation, no visible walkways to access the station and piles of litter.
This busy station is being widely used by the community to travel to work for affordable trips, however it has suffered from neglect and has been left with overgrown vegetation.
Services at the Wolmer train station resumed after it had shutting down for almost two years during the Covid-19 lockdown however it was besieged by infrastructure damage and a build-up of litter creating an unsafe and unhygienic place.
The local organisations joined hands to cut the long grass, clean up the litter and create a safe space for people utilising the station.
Quentin Meyer of the Ons Sal Self organisation said the aim was to restore the station to a safe and welcoming place for travellers and workers.
“We thought of restoring the station, cutting the long vegetation which in some instances served as hideouts for drug addicts and thieves. Thousands of workers have had to pass the long and scary vegetation in the early hours when going to work and again late in the evening which was unsafe,” Meyer said.
He said during winter as it gets too dark, it is going to be very dangerous for people trying to get to the train’s platform or even walk out of the station.
“Everyone living in our community deserves to feel safe in all public spaces.”
Meyer said the garden team and the men of House of Peace NPO also lent a helping hand with cleaning and planting trees around the station.
He said community members also need to play their part and stop littering.
“If we can work together we can maintain the standard and make sure that our public spaces are clean and all commuters can safely visit and utilise the station as it will be kept free of criminals.”
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