Elandsfontein railway station a threat to lives.

By Ramushu “Msiro” Serious

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eatness and tidiness have always been communicated to us from an early age as the prime principles of good life. Cleanliness is perceived as something of great honour, meaning if you look clean you are most likely to be viewed form a certain perspective. However this does not and it’s not of concern to the people around and commuters in Elandsfontein station. Known for its origin as the heart of employment with its multiple of firms and companies in the surroundings. The health of commuters and passer-by is gravely of much concern and are in danger. The picture above shows a grimy railway filled with rubbish yet it is expected that a train carrying thousands of lives has to pass right there.

It is not clear what causes or what caused this mess, however it is believed that there are or used to be cleaners around whose duty was to keep the railway as clean to such an extent that you can even see a lost earing from a distant. But now that is something of the past. No one cleans the railway. Prasa which is responsible for this mess, seem not to care-enough about its customers. Although it is said that customers’ needs come first, that appears not to be a case with the passenger railway agency of South Africa. The station in Elandsfontein has limited if not no dustbins which might be the reason for the railway to be used as a dumping zone. Commuters were heard complaining of the bad smell emanating from the mess/rubbish. This station is indeed detrimental to commuter’s health. When asked one of the prasa employees about the situation, he responded that “these happens because a contract with the cleaning company was terminated” but he seemed not to have an idea why since the company was doing a great job for commuters. Another young lady was heard from a distance saying “we are gatvol of mickey-mouse management”

Who actually do this dumping?

Commuters themselves are blamed to be the one polluting the railway, yet some say that people (community members) do also dump here at night. A joined force could be a solution to this problem. People should come together and agree to do what is best for themselves in the absence of careless and irresponsible prasa management. Prasa does not uphold the South African constitution Section 24 which states “Everyone has the right to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being” but that is not the case in this regard.