Drug-dealing and prostitution in Railway Street

Cape Town - Business owners and residents are up in arms about the close to 100 people selling drugs and sex and illegally occupying what they say is Prasa-owned land in Railway Street, Woodstock.

Chris Lloyd, manager of the Woodstock Improvement District which has been active in the area since 2005, said the problem had existed for the past 11 years.

“The property they are occupying is partly owned by Prasa and Transnet, and we host regular patrols due to the huge amount of people loitering at the spot,” he said.

In December a head count tallied 100 people living in more than 40 informal dwellings.

“The area is a hazard. Drug dealing occurs daily, prostitution is rife and the loiterers are constantly breaking into cars. When they commit street robberies these criminals use the bridge as an exit point to evade the cops. They also start open fires, which is dangerous,” Lloyd said.

He claimed the area was a haven for both serious and petty criminals.

“During discussions with the various roleplayers, it was decided the area needed to be cleaned up, the vegetation removed and the area properly fenced off.”

A local business owner, who did not want to be named because he said he feared for his safety, said he had been complaining about the situation for the past six years.

“I constantly send emails to the Woodstock police complaining about the situation. At times these people are removed to places like Blikkiesdorp, but they soon return.”

At various times he had witnessed a shoot-out with police, and people delivering what looked like drugs.

He had also seen many people being robbed on the bridge.

“Our security guard has also witnessed many people being stabbed outside of the gate of the business. They usually ask him to call the ambulance,” he said.

He called on Prasa to fix the many holes in the fences.

“I am afraid for the safety of the 30 women who work at my company. Luckily nothing has happened, but I’m waiting for the day these thugs come into my business and rob me at gunpoint.”

Metrorail spokeswoman Riana Scott said they were aware of the issue.

“The police are the primary crime-combating agency. The rail system unfortunately does not function in isolation, it bears the brunt of displaced crime in the adjoining communities.”

With crime on the increase, rail precincts were not exempt.

“Criminal elements have been known to access private property through public areas, and generally residents are responsible for securing their own premises.”

But Scott said Metrorail did its utmost to replace or mend fencing as soon as it was damaged.

“We can only do so within the confines of resources available to us. This is within the context that the purpose of railway fencing is primarily to demarcate boundaries and most fencing will not deter wilful entry. Fencing replacement and repairs are planned and prioritised annually in terms of urgency and necessity, and implemented according to available funding.”

She could not be certain who owned the land without an erf number or detailed address.

Provincial police spokesman

Colonel Andre Traut said the Woodstock police, with City Law Enforcement and Metro Police, had raided the Railway Street property commonly known as Mascani on Thursday.

Close to 55 people were arrested.

mika.williams@inl.co.za

Weekend Argus