PRASA hopes to continue with work to repair the Central Line by the end of the week.

Recovery work of the railway line in the Bonteheuwel and Heideveld areas got underway this week.

But it has since been halted.

Metrorail’s Zino Mihi says this is because gangsters threatened workers.

“They were gun-wielding, they are alleged to have assaulted some of the contract workers there. And they were actually saying they want them to stop the work that they are doing immediately. They wanted to know what they were doing, they are alleged to have asked everyone who was there – but others ran away apparently because they were fearing for their lives.”

Mihi says the security concerns – are being addressed.

“As PRASA, we have advised the contractors to just stop the work temporarily, up until we find ways of addressing the internal processes relating to safety and security. We would wish to see the work commencing as soon as possible, before the end of the week.”