The clip shows two men carrying automatic rifles, walking up to a section of the railway line at Netreg Station, and firing several shots into the air. The men's faces have been partially covered.

CAPE TOWN - A video, allegedly related to incidents of apparent extortion in the Bonteheuwel and Bishop Lavis areas, is being widely shared on social media.

The clip shows two men carrying automatic rifles, walking up to a section of the railway line at Netreg Station, and firing several shots into the air. The men's faces have been partially covered.

According to a local ward councillor, workers on Metrorail's central line were chased off site earlier this week - apparently by gangsters attempting to extort, threaten, and intimidate them.

A video of two men with a part of their faces covered and carrying automatic rifles walk up to a section of the railway line at Netreg Station in Bonteheuwel firing shots in the air. (Disclaimer: Strong language used). Video supplied. pic.twitter.com/PN4iz3X2Ij

A decision was taken to halt operations on the line on Tuesday, for the safety of the workers and surrounding communities.

Policing and social conflict specialist Eldred de Klerk has explained the possible reasoning behind the video footage of the gun-wielding men being shared.

“They are doing it under the belief that no one is going to report them firstly because, there is no confidence should someone report the matter, they will be safe. There is a belief that once someone opens a statement, it will be made known to those with criminal intent and those that belong to these criminal cartels,” said de Klerk.

The central line has been defunct since 2019 due to cable theft, vandalism, and squatters on the tracks. There are plans to return it to full service this year.

The DA has called on police and Passenger Railway of South Africa (Prasa) to provide urgent protection for workers on Metrorail's central line.

Chairperson of the Western Cape Standing Committee on Transport Ricardo Mackenzie said Prasa has appeared before the committee several times over the past two years to present recovery plans.

“I will again invite Prasa to discuss the security plans to protect infrastructure projects. My constituency in Mitchells Plain has been waiting for years for rail services,” explained Mackenzie.

VEARY: WC LOSING FIGHT AGAINST ORGANISED CRIME

Meanwhile, former Western Cape head of detectives Jeremy Veary on Wednesday said the province was losing its fight against organised crime.

He said the South African Police Service was severely under resourced. Veary added that detectives and crime intelligence were struggling to crack important cases.