Metrorail overhead cables in Kuils River are disappearing due to theft.
Cables near the R300 bridge in Keerweder Street, Kuils River, as well as those in Voelvlei and Mabile Park have fallen prey to thieves, according to Kuils River Civic Association chairman Isaac Jenecke.
While northern line trains continue to run periodically to Brackenfell and Kraaifontein, this has not been the case on the Kuils River line.
Trains have not been working optimally since the first hard lockdown.
Concerned about the threat that the thefts pose to jobs, the United National Transport Union (Untu) has called on the government to deploy soldiers on the city’s rail lines.
Untu spokeswoman Sonja Carstens, who also serves on the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac), told the Northern News that infrastructure theft and vandalism was starting to take hold across the country and it would be raised in the next Nedlac meeting later this month.
The ripple effect could lead to job losses in the long term for train drivers and other Metrorail staff, she said.
Mr Jenecke said: “Kuils River is already overdue on the MyCiTi bus service, and the trains do not run here. The new loss of infrastructure is just making the outlook more miserable in terms of development.”
Metrorail regional manager Richard Walker referred queries to spokesperson Nana Zenani, who did not respond by time of publication.
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