The City remains unmoved by calls to halt a public auction where 44 vacant and improved sites across Cape Town including a stand-out triple-lot sale in Constantia will go under the hammer, despite public outcry.
The auction comes amid calls to withdraw the sales until a lasting solution for equitable land distribution in Cape Town is formulated.
The Civic Association of Rondebosch East (Care) said they were “deeply concerned” by the auctioning off of the prime properties – with opening bids for a Constantia site starting at between R1.5 million and R3m.
Mayco member for economic growth, James Vos, confirmed the auction would go ahead on Wednesday with a listing of various City-owned properties for sale and lease.
Vos said the properties were surplus to the needs of the City and the money generated will be reinvested into service delivery.
He added that the properties were advertised for public participation processes and no objections were received.
In an open letter to the City, Care chairperson, Rashard Davids said the rights and interests of people who were forcibly removed from the Constantia area under the Group Areas Act during apartheid should be prioritised.
“The proposed auction perpetuates the existing inequalities in land ownership and distribution. It is crucial that the City engages in meaningful consultation with the affected communities to develop a comprehensive plan that addresses historical injustices and promotes social cohesion,” Davids said.
The civic organisation said they were “extremely alarmed by the City’s spatial development plan (SDP), which perpetuates the legacy of apartheid” by “preserving land in affluent areas, predominantly benefiting historically privileged communities”.
“The City of Cape Town can demonstrate its commitment to social justice, equity and inclusive development by withdrawing the sale and revising the spatial development plan after meaningful community engagement is implemented... Should this request be rejected, we shall have no option but to consider our next steps,” Davids said.
Vos said the properties are “surplus to the City’s needs” and it is deemed prudent to place the opportunity on the market.
“The City notes the open letter, however, the City complied with the relevant legislative and Policy framework, including public participation, therefore the auction will proceed. This auction is a key part of our strategy to release land for private-sector development,” said Vos.
GOOD Party’s Brett Herron, said the DA is selling off land “as if it is an unlimited resource”.
“Public land belongs to all the people of our country and the City and the DA government are the custodians on our behalf. They have a duty to use that land for the public good and in the interests of its owners – the people they represent in government. All land has public good opportunities – including small parcels of land that can be used for integration and infill housing.
“The City should stop the sale of these properties and present a public land strategy that comprehensively deals not only with our needs for services, community facilities and housing but also with the city government’s obligations to facilitate land reform including land restitution,” said Herron.
The ANC’s Khalid Sayed said they support the residents’ call.
“The Western Cape and Cape Town in particular is still ravaged by spatial apartheid in terms of land distribution.
Far too many people are still very far from economic activity and the solution must prioritise the rights and interests of the original inhabitants of those areas,” said Sayed.
Cape Times