A small group of senior Retreat residents fear for how the mental wellbeing of the sickly family members that they care for would be affected by a proposed new low-fee school development and possible increase in noise and traffic congestion near their homes in Frans Maroney Street.
People’s Post sat down with a group of Frans Maroney residents who live a stone’s throw away from the field to hear their thoughts and concerns about the proposed school development.
Background
Previously, we reported that the City of Cape Town was considering the discounted sale of City-owned land in Retreat to establish a low-fee high school in the area (“City ponders over Retreat rubble site”, People’s Post, 18 August).
The properties – Remainder Erven 81626, 81627, 81639, Erf 81640, Remainder Erven 81641 and 81642, and Erf 82075 – are situated in Retreat and are bounded by 10th Avenue, Ninth Avenue, Frans Maroney Street and Victoria Road.
The properties collectively cover an area of approximately 14 910 m², zoned as open space, and are currently being used as a “rubble dumping” area, according to Mayco member for economic growth James Vos.
However, a Retreat resident who has lived in the area for 53 years, Linda Botha, previously said she hopes the City of Cape Town can seek alternative land to build a low-fee school, instead of the open land in Frans Maroney Street as this area should remain a green zone.
Resident concerns
Fellow resident Alison Christians, said she agreed with Botha and also opposed the school plan.
She currently cares for her husband who is battling an illness and has lived in the area for over 30 years.
“The only time we heard about the school was when we read the article during the week, but why does no one know? Especially with a lot of sick people and old people staying here. The first thing I thought was, this is a very quiet area. The Apostolic Church down here I think also uses the field for parking. That church has been there for many, many years,” she said.
One speaker who wished to remain anonymous said she feared an increased level of noise and traffic congestion and how it could affect the mental wellbeing of her 86-year-old mother.
“She loves the children, but she is not comfortable with having a lot of people around. For her, this was like a retirement area because all the neighbours are old. We are all the same age; we all grew up together. Our kids have grown up and had kids. We worry about this whole new process of a primary school and all the influx of parents, traffic, children and everything that goes along with it,” she said.
Disposal process
City spokesperson Luthando Tyhalibongo said the property transactions department was referring to isolated areas where building rubble was present, not suggesting the entire site was covered in rubble.
The City’s property transactions department’s disposal process is formal and comprehensive, taking approximately 18 months to complete, he added.
Vos said the site was identified by the applicant and the proposal evaluated on its clear public benefit. Tyhalibongo confirmed the proposal was advertised for public comment on 4 July last year, with no objections received.
A second round of advertisement will be published to allow further public comment. Western Cape Education Department (WCED) spokesperson Bronagh Hammond explained it is an independent school initiative. “The WCED is addressing increased enrolment pressures through the Rapid School Build programme and initiatives such as EduInvest, powered by Wesgro, which draws private sector investment into education.”
People’s Post reached out to the Retreat Steenberg Civic Association (RSCA) for comment but they could not respond before the time of printing.
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