The City of Cape Town is inviting public comment on a proposal to sell 5,6 ha of City-owned land at 80 Seafarer Drive, Strandfontein to Christel House South Africa. The organisation wants to expand its private school, which charges no fees.

The City said the proposal was a chance to put a valuable piece of public land to good use while helping more children, from communities where needs are not being met, access quality education.

About Christel House

Christel House South Africa is a well-established school that serves learners from vulnerable backgrounds. Its support goes beyond the classroom. It provides free education that follows the national curriculum, along with healthcare, meals, transport, emotional and mental-health support, family involvement as well as structured help with further study and finding work after learners have finished their schooling.

For the City, these are important points to weigh up when deciding whether public land can be used in a way that brings real and lasting value to people.

“When we look at City-owned land, we have to ask a very simple question: how can this asset best serve the people of Cape Town?” said James Vos, Mayco member for Economic Growth.

“In this case, we have an established educational institution proposing to invest in the expansion of a no-fee school that supports vulnerable learners, not only academically but also through healthcare, nutrition, transport, family support and pathways into further education and employment.

“That is a significant potential benefit for the Mitchells Plain community, and it is one of the key reasons the City is making progress with the assessment of this proposal.”

Putting public land to good use

The proposed sale would allow a large school facility to be built and ensure the property is used and looked after over the long term.

The benefits the City has taken into account include:

• giving more learners in a community where needs are not being met access to quality school facilities
• offering fully subsidised education to vulnerable learners and their families
• improving young people’s chances of further study and finding work
• supporting broader social and economic development and helping to reduce poverty
• creating jobs during construction and once the school is running
• drawing ongoing investment into the upkeep and use of the property

“The City is not in the business of holding on to land simply for the sake of owning it,” Vos said. “Municipal assets must be managed responsibly and, where appropriate, unlocked to create tangible value for residents.

“This proposal is particularly compelling because the potential outcome is not simply a new development on City land. It is an investment in young people, in families and in the future of an entire community.

“We have seen first-hand that when we make the right decisions about our assets, we can create opportunities that have a lasting impact on communities. That is the type of thinking we are applying here.”

Public still has a say before final decision

The proposed sale still had to go through the City’s official process for selling public property. This includes internal assessments, legal and technical checks, rules the City must follow and public participation.

The City is making the proposal available for public comment before any final decision is taken.

“We are at an important point in the process,” Vos said. “We have assessed the proposal and identified a strong potential public benefit, but the final decision has not yet been made.

“Public participation is an important part of ensuring that the process is transparent and that all relevant information is properly considered before a final decision is taken.

“Our responsibility is to weigh the public interest, community benefit, financial and technical considerations, regulatory requirements and the information received through the public participation process.

“But it is equally important that we explain clearly why we are considering this transaction. This is about taking a City asset and potentially turning it into an opportunity for quality education, employment and long-term community development.

“That is the kind of value we want to unlock from municipal property, not simply for the sake of disposing of land, but to ensure that our assets contribute meaningfully to the people and communities of Cape Town.”

How to submit your comments

The public is invited to submit comments on the proposal by Monday 31 August. Submissions will be considered as part of the City’s assessment process before a final decision is made.

Comments can be submitted:

• Online: the City’s Have Your Say page, under the immovable property notices
• Email: aaishah.abrahams@capetown.gov.za
• In writing: for the attention of Aa’ishah Abrahams, Property Transactions, 13th Floor, Civic Centre, 12 Hertzog Boulevard, Cape Town, 8001

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