The Grahamstown Residents Association (GRA) says it finds it "totally unacceptable" that Transnet is doing nothing to protect Grahamstown Station from destruction.
The Grahamstown Residents Association (GRA) says it finds it "totally unacceptable" that Transnet is doing nothing to protect Grahamstown Station from destruction.
For some years since rail services stopped operating in Grahamstown, the building has been successively stripped of fittings and furnishings.
During the past year, vandals and metal thieves have come close to entirely destroying the building, removing floors, roofs, window and door frames, and even chipping away concrete platforms to remove structural metal.
A visit to the site in August last year prompted DA MP Andrew Whitfield to take up the cause of the station, raising its plight in a Parliamentary question.
The GRA, meanwhile, addressed a petition to Transnet, Makana Municipality, the provincial legislature, the SA Heritage Resources Agency and Parliament, drawing attention to the destruction of the heritage site due to vandalism, and the consequent loss of the opportunity to reinstate rail transport in the area.
In response to the petition, Acting Group Executive of Transnet Karl Socikwa confirmed that Transnet SOC Ltd was the registered owner of the Grahamstown Station property.
He said while Transnet was concerned about the vandalism, it was up to their lessee Prasa, the Passenger Rail and Transport Agency, to first find a new tenant.
"Transnet will only be able to reinstate the station building once an alternative use and occupier has been identified," Socikwa said in a letter dated 24 December 2014.
The GRA in its response to the reply said Transnet should employ guards to prevent further destruction.
"These premises were erected with taxpayer money and Transnet has a duty to the taxpayer and to the Auditor General to ensure that State property is not vandalised and stolen," reads the letter, signed by GRA vie-chairperson Fleur Way-Jones. Way-Jones said the Association would be organising a public meeting about the matter in the near future.
Shetold Grocott's Mail she was concerned about the discrepancy between Transnet's comments about the discontinuation of branch lines and the Minister of Public Enterprises Lynne Brown's assurances that the station would be restored.
sue@grocotts.co.za
