For some residents, the state of Wittebome Metrorail Station’s sidewalks and subways located on Castletown Road, has been one of the prominent symptoms of the area’s overall deterioration.
One such resident, *Mrs Stoffels, is concerned about the station’s aesthetic and overall safety and has reason to believe there has been a change in management at train station.
Stoffels turned to People’s Post’s for help.
“The subway lights have been out of working order now for months due to increasing vandalism. While fast approaching winter, there are people who have to now walk under a dark subway to get to platforms or the other side of the station and have to wait for trains on very dark platforms before 06:00.
“This leaves many commuters vulnerable at a station which has fast become a hub of criminal activities.”
Dirty
She said another problem is the persistently littered sidewalks and alleges that the station does not have a general cleaner to maintain daily neatness.
Stoffels added she and other members of the community have pitched in to try and keep these areas clean.
“On this day, some of the security officers and ladies from the ticket office also offered a hand to improve the overall site.
“I have inquired who the station manager is, as I believe (the previous manager) no longer holds this position.
“I enquired from the ladies at the ticket office, but they could not give me the details of the current manager.”
Vandalism
She also pointed to the vandalising of cable boxes on the station premises that leaves it void of functioning wires in a state of disrepair. “These are photos I took of the current state of our Wittebome Station in April. As you can see the boxes are emptied of their wires,” she showed People’s Post some of the stations.
Ward 63 councillor Carmen Siebritz said the Wittebome Subway is one of 23 attended to by the City which is part of a weekly schedule and therefore cleaned once a week. “According to Mr Nel, Senior Superintendant at Wynberg Cleansing depot, Wittebome is part of the entire Castletown Road strip and therefore always done on a weekly basis.
“It’s also important to note that most, if not all subways, are subjected to illegal dumping either by vagrants, residents or both. This pattern is noted all over the metro. Residents often complain about safety and the absence of security visibility. These are matters, I refer to Prasa Rail Security for attention.”
Media inquiries and follow-up requests were sent to Prasa to comment. However, no feedback had been received by People’s Post at the time of going to print.
*First name withheld to protect the safety and identity of the informant.
