Macassar residents start petition to halt relocation of 2,000 households from central line to their area

CAPE TOWN - Macassar ward councillor, Peter Helfrich, said that residents in the area had made a petition to stop the project management committee (PMC) of the central line relocation and recovery project from moving 2,000 households from the railway line into the community. 

The central line has not been operating for more than four years due to vandalism and theft and the illegal occupation of land near the line during the COVID-19 lockdown. 

The PMC said that PRASA was making progress as trains were now running from Cape Town to Nyanga.

However, over 5,000 households still need to be relocated as work continues for the line from Philippi to Nolungile to be restored.

Helfrich said that Macassar residents were ready to protest. 

"A new petition has been launched, garnering no fewer than 4,000 signatures and is also growing daily. Plans are also in place for a lawful protest to express discontent and vehement opposition to PRASA's proposed action." 

The PMC said that land in Macassar had been explored as an option but no acquisition had been concluded.