Multimillion-rand renewal on the go in Khayelitsha
20 February 2015
Cape Town is focusing on previously under-invested centres as part of its Mayoral
Urban Regeneration Programme (MURP), to improve the lives of its more vulnerable
residents. Khayelitsha is one of several geographic focus areas that the City has
prioritised as strategic investment zones for development.
In the Harare area of Khayelitsha, 17 capital projects have been implemented to date
to the value of about R100-million. The infrastructure and facility investment, driven
by the Violence Prevention through Urban Upgrade programme and the city's
partners, which form part of the MURP, is based on community engagement and
involvement.
Investments have been focused around the main pedestrian routes between
Khayelitsha Station and Monwabisi Park informal settlement. Private sector
partnerships, such as Grassroots Soccer, loveLife and Mosaic, have also been
unlocked. These partners are helping the city to extend its
services to this
community.
In addition, investment in community facilities and public infrastructure of more than
R80-million has already been made in the Kuyasa Precinct. Cape Town Mayor Patricia
de Lille implemented the MURP in 2012.
"With the highest urbanisation rate in the country, the city requires a holistic and
sustainable approach and well-planned solutions to the pressures brought on by
urbanisation," says the city's mayoral committee member for energy, environmental
and spatial planning, Johan van der Merwe.
Apartheid spatial planning
"These challenges are, however, compounded by the apartheid spatial planning that
we see across South Africa which has resulted in a socially and economically divided
urban space.
"The objective of the MURP is therefore to uplift formerly neglected, under-invested
areas which are regressing rapidly, and to improve safety, quality of life and the
socioeconomic situation, through
social partnerships – with a particular focus on the
shared or public environment.
"Decay does not only refer to the general grime and deterioration that comes with
time, but to the erosion of the economic vitality of our economic centres across the
country. That is why it is important for us to create an enabling environment which
will also breed further private sector investment," he adds.
"These interventions are negotiated with communities and incorporated into
community action plans or area strategies."
The city's priority areas for urban regeneration include the Khayelitsha, Hanover Park,
Gatesville, Manenberg and Athlone CBDs. The project also focuses on the CBDs of
Bishop Lavis, Valhalla Park and Bonteheuwel. Furthermore, great attention is being
given to the Bellville, Parow and Goodwood centres within the Voortrekker Road
Corridor as well as the public transport interchanges in Harare and Kuyasa in
Khayelitsha. Emphasis is also placed
on the Mitchells Plain town centre, the town
centres of Nyanga and Gugulethu, and those of Wesfleur (Atlantis), Ocean View and
Macassar.
Building a town
Investments in Harare to date include the establishment of city environmental health
offices, the installation of street lighting along walkways, the development of the
community library, community hall and youth centre, the construction of residential
and business units, the development of a business hub with line-shops, the
development of facilities at Luleka School near Mew Way, and the development of a
recreational park with Fifa's Football for Hope Centre.
Investment in the Kuyasa Precinct, which is situated around the new Kuyasa railway
station and serves a large section of Khayelitsha, including Enkanini, includes the
construction of a regional library, subcouncil offices and the revamp of Solomon
Mahlangu Hall to the value of nearly R75-million. The realignment of Walter Sisulu
Drive is also under way.
"There is still much work to be done in Khayelitsha and in the other priority areas
across the city. While I am proud of the successes achieved, our intervention efforts
are being stepped up. City departments, the Western Cape government, the private
sector and the various communities have embraced this programme. Partnerships
such as these are vital. The transformation of our city and the empowerment of our
residents cannot be achieved without partnerships," says Van der Merwe.
Source: City of Cape Town
Khayelitsha Kuyasa housing project phase two. (Image: City of Cape Town)
