Cape Town - The ongoing Tafelberg Remedial School site sale saga appears to be no closer to a conclusion as a social housing non-profit organisation has joined the chorus of voices calling for the site to be developed into low-cost housing.
Communicare had already objected to the sale of the site, but on Monday said it had been talked out of plans to propose the site be developed for low-cost housing.
“We recognise the need for the government to generate revenue to invest in much- needed public infrastructure, but it is our view the availability of the property to be redeveloped for social housing provides a unique opportunity on the Western seaboard side of the Cape Town City Centre,” said spokeswoman Michelle Matthee.
In 2012 and 2014, Communicare expressed interest in the redevelopment of the Tafelberg School property, but were advised by the former deputy director general in the department of public works, Gary Fisher, to focus on a site in Woodstock instead.
Last week, the Cape Argus published contents of an e-mail Fisher had sent to Communicare.
In the e-mail, Fisher wrote: “I believe you should focus your attention on the Woodstock site for the time being. The Tafelberg site exhibits mixed-use potential, which will no doubt include an element of housing.
“For this reason and the fact the area is under intense scrutiny by local ratepayers and other stakeholders, it is going to be a more drawn out process. Your quick win is Woodstock.”
On Monday, Matthee said the Tafelberg site provided an opportunity to reverse the history of spatial apartheid that had shaped social and economic lives in Cape Town.
“It is unlikely that another such opportunity will be found and such an opportunity should not be discarded. The site is indeed suitable for residential use in general and to social housing in particular as its primary land use.”
In a statement issued by the provincial ANC, on Monday, the party called for the cancellation of the Tafelberg site sale.
Provincial secretary-general Faiez Jacobs said the ANC demanded “the sale of Tafelberg School is immediately cancelled and a plan put in place for affordable housing”.
“A moratorium on the sale of all city and Western Cape Government land so proper public consultation ensues prior to these sites being declared surplus to requirements. Affordable housing within these sites must be given priority,” said Jacobs.
The Tafelberg school site in Sea Point was sold for R135 million to the Phyllis Jowell Jewish Day School, but the sale was put on hold by the Western Cape High Court. The court ordered the Western Cape government to open a public participation process and await a decision by the provincial cabinet.
More than 5 000 public submissions were received last month and Premier Helen Zille’s cabinet will now have to decide whether to continue or cancel the sale based on these submissions.