The FF Plus in Nelson Mandela Bay decided to find out first-hand what the situation is at the De Mist train station in Uitenhage after various complaints about the terrible conditions were received from commuters.
An investigation revealed that decay and vandalism are at the order of the day at the station and that serious damage has been done to the infrastructure and to the toilet facilities in particular.
Bill Harington, Marlon Booysen and several other members of the FF Plus decided to roll up their sleeves and do something about it – they cleaned the station's premises and platform, cut the grass and pulled out weeds so as to make the station safer for use by commuters.
The FF Plus also engaged with the representative of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) and pointed out the problems and shortcomings at De Mist and other train stations in and around the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro. He gave the assurance that more attention will be paid to the conditions at these stations to ensure the safety of not only commuters, but also the personnel working there.
The FF Plus Member of Parliament for Transport, Mr Piet Mey, will also take up the matter with the parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport as well as the relevant minister.
The FF Plus is constantly busy with clean-up projects in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro (Bethelsdorp, Bloemendal, Blue Horizon Bay, Clarendon Marine, Despatch, KwaNobuhle, Motherwell, Port Elizabeth, Summerstrand, Swartkops, Uitenhage) and with assisting residents in dealing with service delivery problems mostly caused by the political instability in the Metro.
It is time for voters to use the opportunity they will have with this year's local government elections to replace the incompetent government in the Metro with a stable and competent government that will turn service delivery and infrastructure maintenance around. The FF Plus is looking forward to being part of the solution.
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