A local businessman has hired 24-hour security for the Grahamstown Station, at his own expense, and officials from the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) have said they will lay charges, following rampant vandalism at the disused facility.
A local businessman has hired 24-hour security for the Grahamstown Station, at his own expense, and officials from the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) have said they will lay charges, following rampant vandalism at the disused facility.
Last week Grocott’s Mail reported on ongoing assaults on the provincial heritage site, where roof sheeting and floorboards had been stripped.
“We have had ongoing reports of thefts and vandalism. Several arrests were made in the past,” police spokesperson Captain Mali Govender told reporters this week.
She said cases of possession of suspected stolen property had been opened for investigation.
However, complications had arisen in charging the perpetrators, as the police require the owners of the station to lay a charge.
“The challenge in this instance is that we need to prove who this property belonged to, so that we can link the case of possession to that of theft.
"If the case of possession cannot be proven in court, then the case against the suspect is withdrawn,” said Govender.
Meanwhile the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) yesterday sent three technicians from East London to conduct an assessment of the station.
One of their main concerns was securing loose power cables in the building to prevent theft, and closing a leaking water pipe.
After the inspection, Agency officials said they would visit Makana Municipality to request the closure of water supply to the station, and the Grahamstown Police Station to lay a charge.
This has not yet been confirmed.
Richard Walker, regional manager of PRASA EC, said they are engaged in talks with Transnet to clarify who owns the property before any further decisions are made.
Local business owner, Lungile Mxube, however, has on his own initiative hired 24-hour security for the building.
Mxube has a vested interest in turning the current train station into a bus terminal, and has held numerous meetings with several bus companies, PRASA and the municipality, who are still following up the proposal.
He has hired the guards at his own cost to prevent further damage to the building. Wanda Ketchem, who has been guarding the station since last week Friday, said that there had been several attempts by looters to steal the roofing of the station.
“These guys are destroying the building. If they touch it, I will do my job,” said Ketchem.
Ketchem is in direct contact with the police while on guard, and said the SAPS had conducted daily patrols of the premises.
Scrap metal dealers in Grahamstown, meanwhile, have been warned not to purchase what they believe may be stolen roofing from the station.
As a provincial heritage site, the Grahamstown Train Station falls under the authority of the Eastern Cape Provincial Heritage Resources Agency, whose mandate is to ensure the protection of the building.
“The complete lack of resources makes the functioning of [the Agency]impossible. The Department of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture has failed in its responsibility to ensure [the Agency]has the resources to perform its legal mandate,” said chairperson Jean Burgess.
Burgess said there was no current agreement between Transnet and the Agency regarding the management and maintenance of the building.
Councillor Brian Jackson, who lodged a complaint about vandalism of the station two weeks ago, expressed his distress at the degradation of historical sites in Grahamstown.
“This is symptomatic of what’s happening to the heritage in this town,” said Jackson.
