Housing activists slam City’s plans to spend R137.7m on beachfront upgrades
HOUSING activist organisation Ndifuna Ukwazi (NU) has slammed the City's plan to inject R7 million into upgrades at the Sea Point Promenade.
The City's directorate for spatial planning and environment recently announced funding allocations for prioritised upgrades and improvements at several beachfronts along the False Bay and Atlantic coastlines.
NU's Buhle Booi said they were disappointed at this. “Since the dawn of democracy not one single unit has been built in Sea Point to accommodate the domestic workers and the security guards who are predominantly black, who are caught at strips of spatial injustice having to use more than 40% of their little pay to commute every day from the peripheries to the city,” Booi said.
“If the City was really committed to spatial justice in practice it wouldn't spend R137.7m on beachfronts.”
Booi said human life should take precedence over beachfronts. “However, it is evident that the City doesn't care about its poor citizens; it has allowed the interests of the rich and white Sea Point residents to assume precedence over the interests of the poor and marginalised people that are in need of housing. Instead we see R3.9 billion signed by the executive mayor to expand the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront when our people continue to live a life of indignity in informal settlements without basic services.”
Forum of Cape Flats Civics (FCFC) spokesperson Lester September said recreational and social development infrastructure were lacking in Cape Flats communities.
“We need that kind of investment on the Cape Flats. The FCFC have made requests for this already but when we ask we are told not to make too onerous requests. This is hugely unfair as the Cape Flats are best suited for where those funds can be spent, instead of where billions have already been invested.
“The Cape Flats have a deficit of social development infrastructure. We are not against the spend for such infrastructure – but spend the money where it is really needed and suited,” said September.
Mayco member for spatial planning and environment Marian Nieuwoudt said the city's coastlines and nature reserves were pristine destinations which became “even more popular during the Covid-19 pandemic”.
“Some of the amenities and coastal structures are, however, in need of refurbishment and this is why a large portion of our capital budget will be invested on improvements to beachfronts and nature reserves in the new financial year,” said Nieuwoudt.
Upgrades include R3m allocated for the upgrading of the entire Monwabisi beach precinct; R3.1m for upgrades at Glencairn beach precinct which are under way and are set to be completed by October; R18.8m for the rehabilitation of the Asanda Village wetland; and R1m for upgrades at the Muizenberg beachfront and upgrades at the Table View beachfront.