Cape Town - The Civic Association of Rondebosch East (CARE) says they are looking to approach the United Nations (UN), invoking the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, over the City’s land release for or a mixed-use development in Rondebosch East.
CARE chairperson, Rashard Davids, said the residents’ opposition towards the development was in no way opposition towards social housing, as there was already affordable housing located in the area.
The opposition, however, comes over the City’s unwillingness to unlock land in more affluent areas for social housing. The City said the proposed sale would include a clause to ensure the Kromboom Road land includes an affordable housing component.
Just last week, the City said it auctioned 45 properties for sale and leasing. These included properties for residential, business, community and industrial use.
The City said the properties were located in Constantia, Atlantis Industrial, Fish Hoek, Century City, Kraaifontein, Somerset West, Goodwood, and Mitchells Plain.
The City said 42 erven were for sale, which included nine improved properties (residential houses) in Constantia, Plumstead, Gardens and Woodstock.
In addition, there were three commercial lease opportunities available in Fish Hoek and Century City.
“We‘re saying you’re selling 44 sites to wealthy individuals, not one of those sites have you made available for social housing. Why? Because it is in a more affluent area and they don’t want people of colour in that area. Plain and simple,” Davids said.
“So housing is not top of their list in terms of the more privileged areas because common sense tells you, you can release one of those 44 sites, two, or 10 of those 44 sites for social housing, because you don't need it.
“We’re saying that town planning means you need to look after the needs and the welfare of that community.
“What do we have in Rondebosch? We don’t even have a civic centre, we don’t even have a place where we can call a meeting can’t have weddings and things like that here.
“There’s no multi-purpose centre, which we are calling for.”
The mixed-use development is expected to yield 800 residential units.
Davids said this would bring an influx of cars to the already congested Kromboom Road.
“They are not responding so we are meeting with our attorneys and we will now take legal action and we will interdict them. Rondebosch East was firstly known as Mossiesnest and there are indigenous people that also claimed the land.
“They lived here in Mossiesnest, and so we will also be approaching the United Nations Council, to put in a claim for all land in Cape Town that belongs to the indigenous people, the Khoi, the San and so on and their descendants who are now fighting this case.”
Ward councillor, Mark Kleinschmidt, said the process was at an early stage.
“The City is trying as far as possible, because of the huge backlog of housing and suitable accommodation, for the middle-class people, I presume that the units built will be in keeping with that of Rondebosch East.
“The residents have not taken kindly to this and I can understand that, because we do have problems with traffic congestion and so on, but as I see it this development will open up those doors for traffic road development and of course, municipal services infrastructures as well.”
Mayco member for Human Settlements Carl Pophaim said: “The statutory part of the public participation process relating to the City’s intent to dispose of land as per legislative requirements commenced on 13 September 2024 and will run over a 30 day period.”
Cape Argus