Cultural Clash over Proposed Relocation Site for Railway Line Occupiers

In the ongoing saga surrounding the settlement of households occupying part of the railway line between Nyanga and Khayelitsha, a new clash has emerged. In late 2019, train operations on the Metrorail Central Line were halted due to theft and vandalisation of equipment after the cancellation of security contracts by PRASA. The unoccupied railway lines soon became a settlement area for households during the Covid lockdown in 2020.

PRASA stepped in with a temporary solution in August, proposing to relocate around 900 households to vacant land next to the Stock Road train station in Philippi East. However, local traditional leaders are contesting this choice of location, as the area is used for traditional Xhosa circumcision rituals, particularly in June and December each year.

Sikelela Zokufa, chair of the Somagwaza Institute, a non-profit organisation dedicated to preserving traditional Xhosa culture, expressed strong opposition against the proposition, stating that the organisation had not been consulted prior to the plan's announcement during an imbizo. Zokufa vowed that the site, vital for initiation ceremonies for many local boys, would not become a relocation area.

Despite the growing feud, meeting records indicate that the relocation of these families has been overdue, with the initiative, called Operation Bhekela, set to be discussed next on 11 October. As of yet, no signs of the proposed vegetation clearing of the Stock Road station site have been glimpsed, casting further doubt on the viability of the location.