Residents of Northpine in Kraaifontein are demanding answers after the City of Cape Town approved and began erecting informal trading bays directly in front of their residential area without, they say, any meaningful community consultation and with no response from either their ward councillor or the Mayor’s office.

The community of approximately 2 200 households describes Northpine as a well-maintained, family-oriented neighbourhood, one of the few places where children can still safely ride bicycles and play in the streets.

“We are proud of our neighbourhood and work closely with our CID to maintain the safety and cleanliness of the area,” a community spokesperson told the newspaper.

Residents say the proposed trading site threatens to change all of that. “We are extremely concerned about the negative impact this development will have on our neighbourhood,” said the spokesperson.

Their concerns are specific. “The proposed site has no ablution facilities, is situated on one of the busiest taxi routes in the area, and will further worsen the traffic congestion that residents already experience when entering and exiting Northpine.”

In addition, many residents are disappointed that no proper public participation process was followed before these plans were approved.

“We have submitted our concerns and requests for engagement to our ward councillor, as well as to the Mayor’s office,” residents say. “Unfortunately, we have not yet received any response.”

City says process was followed

City spokesperson Luthando Tyhalibongo said the public participation process was conducted in line with the City’s Informal Trading By-law.

He says public notices were published in the Cape Argus on 18 March 2024 and in TygerBurger on 20 March 2024, with hand-delivered notices to residents and businesses on 4 April 2024.

In a previous report by TygerBurger in last week’s edition on similar informal trading bays being erected next to a playpark in Brackenfell, the City, when asked for proof of hand-delivery of notices to residents, could not provide such.

The City stated that residents were not required to sign for the “hand-delivered” notices. It later transpired that pamphlets were dropped in postboxes at some homes where postboxes are still up. TygerBurger has requested the same proof for residents in Northpine and is currently awaiting a response.

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“The City’s Have Your Say online platform was open throughout the participation period, and two public open days were held — at the Kraaifontein Civic on 5 April 2024, and at Eikendal Library on 20 April 2024, the latter specifically scheduled on a Saturday to accommodate working residents,” he says.

On the question of ablution facilities, Tyhalibongo said the City was committed to providing them where feasible, with mobile facilities used as an interim measure while permanent solutions are planned.

“When a need is identified, the City conducts assessments and, where possible, implements appropriate solutions to support trading activities. Mobile ablution facilities are commonly used while permanent infrastructure is being planned and developed,” he said.

Economic opportunities

Regarding traffic, he said relevant City departments, including urban mobility, had been consulted during the planning process and raised no objections.

“The implementation of trading plans does not automatically result in significant traffic impacts as these sites are generally intended to serve existing pedestrian and commuter activity within an area rather than generate additional vehicle traffic,” he said, adding that the City would monitor the site and address any concerns through appropriate municipal processes.

“The intention is to provide managed economic opportunities while maintaining the safe and efficient use of surrounding infrastructure and public spaces.”

On the community’s unanswered requests for engagement, Tyhalibongo said further engagements were being coordinated and that details would be communicated to residents in due course.

“The City acknowledges the concerns raised by residents regarding traffic and the potential impact on the surrounding area. When identifying trading locations, a range of spatial, operational and safety considerations are assessed, including accessibility, pedestrian movement, existing activity patterns, and the suitability of the public space for informal trading. The intention is to provide managed economic opportunities while maintaining the safe and efficient use of surrounding infrastructure and public spaces,” said Tyhalibongo.

Residents remain unconvinced. Having received no direct response, they have turned to the media to amplify their concerns, and are still waiting for the City to come to the table.