The proposal to build "integrated and mixed-density" housing in Constantia, described as a political ploy to paint residents as racist, has become something of a political football.
Speaking at a Tokai Neighbourhood Crime Watch meeting recently, the area's outgoing DA ward councillor Leon van Rensberg told residents the plan is intended only to score the ANC votes in the area through "divide and rule" tactics and to paint itself favourably in terms of integration.
Both the provincial departments of public works, who proposed the development, and housing have rubbished this view.
The province intends to build high-density small homes surrounded by three-storey flats, all aimed at "gap and affordable income groups".
But the proposal raised heated comment at a packed public meeting in October last year where residents and affected parties complained of a flawed public participation process.
Included in a comprehensive list of concerns about the proposal, they said "forced integration" was not sustainable and the development was out of keeping with the semi-rural nature of the area. There would not be enough schools and transport networks would not cope with the number of new residents.
Given an overwhelming public response, the comments period was extended by a month to December 10.
"We are still capturing all the comments. It's taking a long time because there were so many," said consultant Junaid Moosajee of Environmental Partnership.
Van Rensburg - who announced his resignation as ward councillor at the recent crime watch meeting, saying he needed time for his legal practice - said the proposal "makes no sense" from a town-planning point of view and is unlikely to be passed "by any reasonable government" after the election.
He said the homes had been valued at R750 000 at the public meeting and would not be affordable to the intended market.
But in a column published in the Cape Argus last week, provincial housing MEC Whitey Jacobs spoke of the "monumental task" of reversing apartheid-era town planning, particularly given the shortage of land available for development in Cape Town.
Comparing the proposed Constantia development with another in Elsies River, he called for Capetonians to "give integration a chance".
"A new generation of Capetonians - unfettered by class and race divisions - can emerge."
While Ann Coltham of the Constantia Hills Residents' Association said she did not wish to comment on Van Rensburg's statements, in a letter to the Cape Argus last year she referred to the proposal as a "point scoring" initiative.
"Stop wasting taxpayers' money, stop wasting time, and most important, stop building dreams of prosperity for people when you have no thorough plan to deliver," she wrote.
Provincial housing spokesperson Lukhanyo Calata said: "These are very unfortunate comments. We're trying to do away with apartheid-era planning, but people are not willing to give integration a chance. The DA will try to oppose any progressive development."
But Van Rensburg, speaking of the ANC-led provincial government, said: "Their strategy is to divide and rule. They propose a development like this to show how committed they are to integration.
"And when the residents of what government leaders like to call 'the leafy suburbs' complain, then they make them look like a bunch of racists."
According to DA provincial housing spokesman Michael de Villiers: "The problem in this instance is not integration but in finding a suitable location for the proposed housing development."
Saying the DA agreed with the intention of proposed low-cost and gap housing, he called for better consultation with people affected by such projects and for better consideration of city planning needs.
"Where home owners have invested their hard-earned funds in homes, they deserve proper consideration so that their investments are not unnecessarily adversely affected by improperly situated low-cost housing developments."
Transport and Public Works MEC Kholeka Mqulwana said the accusation that the proposal was a political ploy was "highly unfortunate" and "a perpetuation of the Group Areas Act".
"The DA plays geographical politics where they want to make sure that poor people stay out of rich areas."
But De Villiers said the province and city administrations needed to work "hand-in-glove" to find solutions that work for everyone in such situations.
- Cape Argus
Speaking at a Tokai Neighbourhood Crime Watch meeting recently, the area's outgoing DA ward councillor Leon van Rensberg told residents the plan is intended only to score the ANC votes in the area through "divide and rule" tactics and to paint itself favourably in terms of integration.
Both the provincial departments of public works, who proposed the development, and housing have rubbished this view.
The province intends to build high-density small homes surrounded by three-storey flats, all aimed at "gap and affordable income groups".
But the proposal raised heated comment at a packed public meeting in October last year where residents and affected parties complained of a flawed public participation process.
Included in a comprehensive list of concerns about the proposal, they said "forced integration" was not sustainable and the development was out of keeping with the semi-rural nature of the area. There would not be enough schools and transport networks would not cope with the number of new residents.
Given an overwhelming public response, the comments period was extended by a month to December 10.
"We are still capturing all the comments. It's taking a long time because there were so many," said consultant Junaid Moosajee of Environmental Partnership.
Van Rensburg - who announced his resignation as ward councillor at the recent crime watch meeting, saying he needed time for his legal practice - said the proposal "makes no sense" from a town-planning point of view and is unlikely to be passed "by any reasonable government" after the election.
He said the homes had been valued at R750 000 at the public meeting and would not be affordable to the intended market.
But in a column published in the Cape Argus last week, provincial housing MEC Whitey Jacobs spoke of the "monumental task" of reversing apartheid-era town planning, particularly given the shortage of land available for development in Cape Town.
Comparing the proposed Constantia development with another in Elsies River, he called for Capetonians to "give integration a chance".
"A new generation of Capetonians - unfettered by class and race divisions - can emerge."
While Ann Coltham of the Constantia Hills Residents' Association said she did not wish to comment on Van Rensburg's statements, in a letter to the Cape Argus last year she referred to the proposal as a "point scoring" initiative.
"Stop wasting taxpayers' money, stop wasting time, and most important, stop building dreams of prosperity for people when you have no thorough plan to deliver," she wrote.
Provincial housing spokesperson Lukhanyo Calata said: "These are very unfortunate comments. We're trying to do away with apartheid-era planning, but people are not willing to give integration a chance. The DA will try to oppose any progressive development."
But Van Rensburg, speaking of the ANC-led provincial government, said: "Their strategy is to divide and rule. They propose a development like this to show how committed they are to integration.
"And when the residents of what government leaders like to call 'the leafy suburbs' complain, then they make them look like a bunch of racists."
According to DA provincial housing spokesman Michael de Villiers: "The problem in this instance is not integration but in finding a suitable location for the proposed housing development."
Saying the DA agreed with the intention of proposed low-cost and gap housing, he called for better consultation with people affected by such projects and for better consideration of city planning needs.
"Where home owners have invested their hard-earned funds in homes, they deserve proper consideration so that their investments are not unnecessarily adversely affected by improperly situated low-cost housing developments."
Transport and Public Works MEC Kholeka Mqulwana said the accusation that the proposal was a political ploy was "highly unfortunate" and "a perpetuation of the Group Areas Act".
"The DA plays geographical politics where they want to make sure that poor people stay out of rich areas."
But De Villiers said the province and city administrations needed to work "hand-in-glove" to find solutions that work for everyone in such situations.
- Cape Argus
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