News

Heritage committee and local residents’ association raise alarm over lack of detail in the current development proposal

By Matthew Hirsch/GroundUp

The future of the long-contested Tafelberg site in Sea Point was top of the agenda at a Heritage Western Cape meeting earlier this month.… Read more

City of Cape Town wants to upgrade the market and alter longstanding arrangements

By Ashraf Hendricks/GroundUp

Flower sellers at the iconic Trafalgar Place in Adderley Street are concerned that a new plan by the City of Cape Town will change how their market operates.… Read more

TotalEnergies taken to court over plans to drill wells off the west coast

By Liezl Human/GroundUp

Small-scale fishers and environmental organisations were in the Cape High Court on 23 March in a bid to halt oil and gas exploration by TotalEnergies along the West Coast.… Read more

With a backlog of 600,000 housing units and the state only providing 2,500 a year, the City has to incentivise the private sector to step in

• The City of Cape Town has a huge housing backlog and a legacy of apartheid spatial planning.

More than 50 municipal land parcels across the city are being sold to the highest bidder while locals suffer a housing availability crisis

The City’s plan to auction the iconic turtle-shaped Good Hope Centre along with other parcels of municipal land across the city on 26 February was met with protests, legal challenges, and a request for postponement from the SA Human Rights Commission.… Read more

The City’s auctioning of 53 parcels of land without any requirements for the provision of social or affordable housing is not aligned to the City’s affordable housing commitments, states the Development Action Group.

In a statement released on 25 Feb, the Development Action Group (DAG) noted the High Court’s dismissal of applications seeking to postpone the City auction.… Read more

“Who would have thought back then that it would have turned out like this today” says 69-year-old resident

By Matthew Hirsch/GroundUp

Six District Six families living in historic semi-detached Victorian cottages on Searle Street, who withstood apartheid forced removals but now face eviction, say they will fight on despite a magistrates’ court judgment in December ordering them to vacate the cottages by 6 March.… Read more

City battles land occupation as restitution process drags on

By Matthew Hirsch/GroundUp

The length of time it is taking to settle District Six claims is leaving the land vulnerable to illegal occupation, creating difficulties for the City, although resettlement of the area is the national government’s responsibility.… Read more

Zeekoevlei is used by schools and clubs for sailing and rowing but a toxic algal bloom has led to it being closed since December

By Matthew Hirsch/GroundUp

Zeekoevlei, which is used by numerous sailing, rowing, and other recreational clubs, has been closed since December due to dangerous levels of toxins caused by algal blooms.… Read more

Funding is secured, but about 50 families living in an informal settlement still need to be relocated

By Matthew Hirsch

Funding has been secured to build social housing at the Salt River Market site, but about 50 families living in an informal settlement on the property still need to be relocated.… Read more