Ruined buildings, which have become a haven for crime and squatting, near Woodstock train station are to be demolished.
The abandoned buildings on the corner of Railway and Tide streets are little more than crumbling shells and are swamped by mounds of rubbish and rubble. They are owned by the Passenger Railway Agency of South Africa (Prasa), which now plans to tear them down.
“The process for the demolition of the properties in question is already under way and meets our priority to have these buildings demolished as soon as reasonably possible,” said Prasa spokesperson Zinobulali Mihi.
The buildings had once served as offices for the old South African Railways before being used by various companies, she said.
Ward 115 councillor Ian McMahon said the buildings had been a “crime hub” for many years, and he welcomed Prasa’s commitment to demolish them.
Mr McMahon praised Prasa for talking to him, the municipality, the Woodstock police and others about the possibility of clearing the site so that it could be leased or developed.
Woodstock police chief Colonel Delven Matroos said many drug-related offences had been linked to the site, stolen property had been found there and several robberies had happened in nearby roads.
Ms Mihi said Prasa would secure the site to prevent further vandalism and illegal occupation, and the entire area had been earmarked for development.
