DE GRENDEL
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DE GRENDEL TRAIN STATION: ‘THERE IS NOTHING LEFT’
Operation at station a success RICHARD ROBERTS @richardjohn_rj
M
embers of the Parow West Neighbourhood Watch, along with several other role-players, conducted an operation at De Grendel train station this past weekend. The aim of the operation was to clean up the station and to ensure safety for commuters. Chair of the neighbourhood watch, Shakir Smith, told TygerBurger that the problematic train station was the primary target due to the ongoing issues which includes vandalism and theft. Smith, also chair of the community policing forum’s subforum, says the various teams were briefed at the Parow police station at 23:00 before embarking on the operation. Some of the role-players involved in the operation include the City of Cape Town’s law enforcement unit, the police’s rapid response unit, as well as Prasa. “All in all we had about 60 odd people there. I think it was successful to a degree, but also a learning curve. The message got out there though, that we are not prepared to take nonsense anymore,” Smith says. He says several people were arrested during the course of the evening for various offences. “We also issued curfew fines of R8 000. We caught three guys running who we think were cable thieves and also arrested nine others for trespassing. “We found a shovel near the trenches where they dug for cables, but we cannot be sure to whom it belongs.”
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“All of the people had their finger prints taken and checked. “The whole idea was to get them for land invasion.” Smith says cable theft is another issue and damage to property is also a concern. “The reality is, only Prasa can arrest them for trespassing, not the police, not law enforcement, only Prasa. “Therefore I tried to get everyone on board, in order to for us to afford those arrests.” He adds, “I spent the whole week speaking to different role-players. The nice part is that they all came on board, even though I was hesitant. Generally you call and email and nothing happens, but lo and behold, everybody came to the party.” Smith says the teams spent just over an hour at the De Grendel train station. “We found that all of the shacks had been made from the materials of the station. They used the stations benches and ceiling boards to set-up camp. The residue such as the wires and casings, they used to tie-up the shelters with.” Prasa had welded-up all of the gates. Smith says both Parow North lower and Parow West have been harassed by vagrants for some time now. The Parow North lower neighbourhood watch team also joined them on Saturday. “It is bad. There is nothing left inside the station. There is nothing left at all. “Even all of the toilets are missing and there are no more ticket offices. “This is not just a Parow North problem, but a Parow West problem as well. We all share the train station,” Smith says.
Superheroes in the shadows:
A staff member at Mediclinic Louis Leipoldt takes a picture of the Cape Town Highlanders Pipe Band Association as they perform below as tribute to the frontline medical workers. The church across throws a shadow – resembling Batman – over the building. Read more on page 5. PHOTO: NIELEN DE KLERK
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