An 83-year-old Retreat resident who has lived in the area for 53 years hopes the City of Cape Town can seek alternative land to build a low-fee school, instead of the open land in Frans Marony Street that is being proposed as she says this area should remain a green zone.

Linda Botha, a Frans Marony Street resident and a former teacher at Princess Vlei Primary for seven years, says she moved to Retreat in March 1973.

Previously, People’s Post reported that the City of Cape Town is 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 Tenth Avenue, Ninth Avenue, Frans Marony 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.

Resident concerns

Botha and her husband, who turns 86 this year, were among the first to build in the area, then surrounded by wood and iron houses with no streets, no sewage and only bucket toilets.

“We had no services when we built here. The council only started building the road in 1986,” she said.
Botha said the land opposite her street in Frans Maroney Street is clean, well-maintained open green space, not a dumping site as the City has claimed.

“I took pictures of it. There is only one yellow daisy flower growing there and not a single bit of rubble. The council comes to mow the lawn. It has never been a dumping site.”

City responds

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.

Botha said the area is home to retirees who value their peace and quiet.

“We are happy being silent. We rest peacefully at night and hear nothing. It has never been a rowdy place. There are no loud parties, and it is off the main roads. It is good for our seniors. We do not want any development here — no trucks and no buses.”

She questioned if the City could not consider alternative sites, asking why the open land near the KFC in Retreat was not used instead.

She is also interested to hear Ward 72 councillor Kevin Southgate’s thoughts on the proposed school, she said.

“Our streets are not seen to or swept by the council. We have to do it ourselves,” she said.

Southgate, however, supports the proposal and sees it opening “educational opportunities” for the youth.

“I support the City in its proposal for a low-fee school to be constructed in Retreat, since it will help meet the need for additional school capacity in the area,” he said.

“Establishing a low-fee school with fees well below that of other independent schools really opens the door to educational opportunities that would otherwise not have been available to many learners.”

Plans

The City is considering the discounted sale of approximately 14 910m² of City-owned land — bounded by Tenth Avenue, Ninth Avenue, Frans Marony Street and Victoria Road — to a registered non-profit organisation to establish the school.

Mayco member for economic growth James Vos said the site was identified by the applicant and the proposal was evaluated on its clear public benefit.

Tyhalibongo confirmed the proposal was advertised for public comment in the Cape Argus and Die Burger on 4 July last year, with no objections received.

A second round of advertisement will be published to allow further public comment.

The Western Cape Education Department spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said 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,” she said.

Botha remains steadfast: “We have lived here for 53 years. This should remain a green zone.”

People’s Post reached out to the Retreat Steenberg Civic Association (RSCA) for comment but they could not respond before the time of publication.

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