The City of Cape Town and Ward 109 councillor Peter Helfrich have confirmed Deepfreeze in Macassar will be equipped with 400 serviced plots for residents, including those displaced by a fire in January.
This comes after claims by the Ward 109 Development Forum that plots had been secured for the community, particularly for people displaced after the blaze (“Brouhaha about forum’s land claim, DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette, 29 January). At the time neither the City nor Helfrich officially confirmed the claims.
“First preference for allocation will be given to the inhabitants of Deepfreeze,” assured Councillor Carl Pophaim, Mayoral Committee member for human settlements.
He said the City had identified sites and a verification process would be in place to ensure the intended beneficiaries received them.
“No-one has received any official allocation documentation, however, the residents of Deepfreeze have been engaged regarding their allocations,” he said.
Pophaim and Helfrich explained that the reason for the delay in allocating the sites was due to issues with the electricity supply to the Deepfreeze community. “The supply requires the involvement of Eskom,” said Helfrich. “We have consistently engaged with them on this matter.”
However, the electricity provider has disputed these claims, stating that the delay was due to the relocation of beneficiaries to the site designated by the City.
“Eskom can confirm that the electrification designs for Deepfreeze were completed in the 2023-’24 financial year,” said the power utility giant.
“Since then, the project has been on hold pending the necessary relocation of beneficiaries before electrification construction can commence.”
Eskom emphasised that they are not responsible for the relocation nor the allocation of the City’s electrification sites.
Helfrich has confirmed that he has held multiple meetings with residents, especially over the last month to have open communication regarding the land.
Despite the dispute over the reason for the delay, Sipho Delani, chairperson of the forum, said he believed this was a step in the right direction for Ward 109, as it aligned with the forum’s vision of developing the area.
