The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) has strongly denied claims that it planned to move 2 000 squatters living along its central railway line to vacant land in Sandvlei.
This after allegations of the supposed relocation to the Macassar community recently surfaced, much to the dismay of locals.
An upset Christiaan Stewart, a community activist, said the community believes the land in question should be allocated to people from the local community.
“The plots and houses in Sandvlei are available to those who do not qualify for houses and not for those who are from areas outside of Macassar,” he explained.
A petition, undersigned by about 4 000 residents, was submitted to Prasa on Monday 25 March.
The document listed residents’ concerns, among others that the relocation will put more pressure on the community and limited resources, including overcrowded schools, strained health facilities, and unresourced police.
It also raised concerns of a possible escalation in crime, pressure on municipal infrastructure, and further addition to an already buckling power system. “We are urging Prasa to reconsider [the relocation] for our community’s well-being,” the petition states.
Ward 109 councillor Peter Helfrich said the “transaction” solely involved private landowners and Prasa. “Neither I nor the City of Cape Town are involved,” he said.
“To those attempting to politicise this matter I issue a friendly warning: our community is united in its resolve to confront this issue earnestly and will not tolerate politicisation. This is a unique instance where the community and its leaders have unanimously united to address this pressing concern.”
On enquiry, deputy mayor Eddie Andrews, also Mayoral Committee member for Spatial Planning and Environment, said Prasa appointed the Housing Development Agency (HDA) to undertake acquisitions of private land, planning approval applications and the relocation of the central line occupiers.
“These institutions are the most well-placed to respond to questions related to the relocation of the occupiers,” he said. “Furthermore, the City can confirm no application has been submitted concerning land in Macassar.”
Andiswa Makanda, a spokesperson for Prasa, refuted claims of the supposed relocation to land in Sandvlei, adding there is currently no talk of moving residents to the Helderberg community.
“We are dealing with Phase 1 at the moment,” she said.
“Land identification for the second portion of the [central line] occupied land is underway. The project management committee leading the relocation efforts will make an official announcement once land for Phase 2 has been identified and confirmed.”
She confirmed the committee is aware of various allegations of the relocation of occupants to Macassar.
“The relocation of households illegally occupying the central line will be done in two phases. Currently land has been acquired in the Philippi Wedge area for Phase 1,” the committee said.
“No land has been acquired for Phase 2. The Macassar land parcels have previously been explored as a possibly viable option, but no acquisition has been concluded.”
