Infrastructure
Question by:
Hon Brett Herron
Answered by:
Hon Tertuis Simmers
Question Number:
11
Question Body:
With reference to the Siyahlala settlement, which was earmarked for urgent relocation in 2018 for the operating requirements of a freight rail line, and the purchase of land parcels (erven 35163, 35164, 35165, 35166, 35167, 35168, 35169, 35170, 35171, 35172, 35173 and 35174, Milnerton) and a portion of an industrial estate known as Racing Park to facilitate this relocation specifically:
- Whether the relocation of the Siyahlala settlement has taken place; if not, why not; if so, (a) what are the current plans for the relocation and housing of the households in the Siyahlala informal settlement and (b) how many households are there in the Siyahlala informal settlement; if so, what are the details of the relocation;
- whether the erven described above that was purchased by the Housing Development Agency (HDA) on the instruction (and funding) of the Western Cape Government for the relocation are currently in use for housing; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
- whether the HDA acquired any additional erven in the industrial park since the erven described above were transferred on 8 February 2019; if so, what are (a) the details, (b) the price;
- whether the additional erven were funded by the Western Cape Government, particularly the portions with utilities servitudes; if so, what are the relevant details;
- whether the current erven are able to be developed without additional erven being acquired; if not; what are the relevant details; if so, what are the relevant details?
Answer Body:
- (a)(b) The relocation of the Siyahlala community is a matter between the City of Cape Town and Transnet, with assistance being provided by my Department. The subject properties in and adjacent to Racing Park were not acquired only to serve the beneficiaries from Siyahlala, but rather the larger Du Noon and Doornbach area. After engagements between the City and the former Department of Human Settlements, an agreement was reached that a number of the Siyahlala community, which consists of approximately 750 occupiers, will be accommodated on the land. The majority of the beneficiaries are to be relocated to another City owned land parcel. Engagements with the community are ongoing through a court mandated mediation process.
- Services installations on Phase 1 of the project (the land adjacent to Racing Park) have been completed. The construction of top structures has been delayed due to the costs associated with the originally proposed high-density typologies, ongoing pressures on the fiscus and associated budget cuts. My Department and the City of Cape Town are currently in negotiations on how to best proceed with this project.
- Response is on (a)(b)
- No additional land has been acquired in this precinct since 2019.
- Development of existing landholdings can proceed without the acquisition of additional land.
Date:
Friday, June 27, 2025
